ceased. The light thrilled toward her, filled With angels in strong, level flight. Her eyes prayed, and she smiled.
(I saw her smile.) But soon their path no Was vague in distant spheres; And then she cast her arms along The golden barriers, And laid her face between her hands, And wept. (I heard her tears.)
1846 1850
My Sister's Sleep1
She fell asleep on Christmas Eve. At length the long-ungranted shade Of weary eyelids overweighed
The pain nought else might yet relieve.
5 Our mother, who had leaned all day Over the bed from chime to chime, Then raised herself for the first time,
And as she sat her down, did pray.
Her little worktable was spread io With work to finish. For? the glare because of Made by her candle, she had care To work some distance from the bed.
Without, there was a cold moon up, Of winter radiance sheer and thin; 15 The hollow halo it was in Was like an icy crystal cup.
Through the small room, with subtle sound Of flame, by vents the fireshine drove And reddened. In its dim alcove
20 The mirror shed a clearness round.
I had been sitting up some nights, And my tired mind felt weak and blank; Like a sharp strengthening wine it drank
The stillness and the broken lights.
1. The incident in this poem is imaginary, not autobiographical.
.
144 8 / DANT E GABRIE L ROSSETT I 25 Twelve struck. That sound, by dwindling years Heard in each hour, crept off; and then The ruffled silence spread again, Like water that a pebble stirs. 30Our mother rose from where she sat; Her needles, as she laid them down, Met lightly, and her silken gown Settled?no other noise than that. 35'Glory unto the Newly Born!' So, as said angels, she did say, Because we were in Christmas Day, Though it would still be long till morn. 40Just then in the room over us There was a pushing back of chairs, As some who had sat unawares So late, now heard the hour, and rose. With anxious softly-stepping haste Our mother went where Margaret lay, Fearing the sounds o'erhead?should they Have broken her long watched-for rest! 45 She stooped an instant, calm, and turned, But suddenly turned back again; And all her features seemed in pain With woe, and her eyes gazed and yearned. 50For my part, I but hid my face, And held my breath, and spoke no word. There was none spoken; but I heard The silence for a little space. 55Our mother bowed herself and wept; And both my arms fell, and I said, 'God knows I knew that she was dead.' And there, all white, my sister slept. 1847 60Then kneeling, upon Christmas morn A little after twelve o'clock, We said, ere the first quarter struck, 'Christ's blessing on the newly born!' 1850
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JENNY / 1449
Jenny
Vengeance of Jenny's case! Fie on her! Never name her, child!?(Mrs. Quickly.)'
Lazy laughing languid Jenny,
Fond of a kiss and fond of a guinea,2
Whose head upon my knee to-night
Rests for a while, as if grown light
5 With all our dances and the sound
To which the wild tunes spun you round:
Fair Jenny mine, the thoughtless queen
Of kisses which the blush between
Could hardly make much daintier;
10 Whose eyes are as blue skies, whose hair
Is countless gold incomparable:
Fresh flower, scarce touched with signs that tell
Of Love's exuberant hotbed:?Nay,
Poor flower left torn since yesterday
15 Until to-morrow leave you bare;
Poor handful of bright spring-water
Flung in the whirlpool's shrieking face;
Poor shameful Jenny, full of grace3
Thus with your head upon my knee;?
20 Whose person or whose purse may be
