The Ghost's Petition

'There's a footstep coming: look out and see,''The leaves are falling, the wind is calling;No one cometh across the lea.'--

'There's a footstep coming; O sister, look.'--'The ripple flashes, the white foam dashes;No one cometh across the brook.'--

'But he promised that he would come:To-night, to-morrow, in joy or sorrow,He must keep his word, and must come home.

'For he promised that he would come:His word was given; from earth or heaven,He must keep his word, and must come home.

'Go to sleep, my sweet sister Jane;You can slumber, who need not numberHour after hour, in doubt and pain.

'I shall sit here awhile, and watch;Listening, hoping, for one hand gropingIn deep shadow to find the latch.'

After the dark, and before the light,One lay sleeping; and one sat weeping,Who had watched and wept the weary night.

After the night, and before the day,One lay sleeping; and one sat weeping--Watching, weeping for one away.

There came a footstep climbing the stair;Some one standing out on the landingShook the door like a puff of air--

Shook the door, and in he passed.Did he enter? In the room centreStood her husband: the door shut fast.

'O Robin, but you are cold--Chilled with the night-dew: so lily-white youLook like a stray lamb from our fold.

'O Robin, but you are late:Come and sit near me--sit here and cheer me.'--(Blue the flame burnt in the grate.)

'Lay not down your head on my breast:I cannot hold you, kind wife, nor fold youIn the shelter that you love best.

'Feel not after my clasping hand:I am but a shadow, come from the meadowWhere many lie, but no tree can stand.

'We are trees which have shed their leaves:Our heads lie low there, but no tears flow there;Only I grieve for my wife who grieves.

'I could rest if you would not moanHour after hour; I have no powerTo shut my ears where I lie alone.

'I could rest if you would not cry;But there's no sleeping while you sit weeping--Watching, weeping so bitterly.'--

'Woe's me! woe's me! for this I have heard.Oh night of sorrow!--oh black to-morrow!Is it thus that you keep your word?

'O you who used so to shelter meWarm from the least wind--why, now the east windIs warmer than you, whom I quake to see.

'O my husband of flesh and blood,For whom my mother I left, and brother,And all I had, accounting it good,

'What do you do there, underground,In the dark hollow? I'm fain to follow.What do you do there?--what have you found?'--

'What I do there I must not tell:But I have plenty: kind wife, content ye:It is well with us--it is well.

'Tender hand hath made our nest;Our fear is ended, our hope is blendedWith present pleasure, and we have rest.'--

'Oh, but Robin, I'm fain to come,If your present days are so pleasant;For my days are so wearisome.

'Yet I'll dry my tears for your sake:Why should I tease you, who cannot please youAny more with the pains I take?'