The Dame of Athelhall
“Soul! Shall I see thy face,” she said,“In one brief hour?And away with thee from a loveless bedTo a far-off sun, to a vine-wrapt bower,And be thine own unseparated,And challenge the world’s white glower?”
She quickened her feet, and met him whereThey had predesigned:And they clasped, and mounted, and cleft the airUpon whirling wheels; till the will to bindHer life with his made the moments thereEfface the years behind.
Miles slid, and the sight of the port upgrewAs they sped on;When slipping its bond the bracelet flewFrom her fondled arm. Replaced anon,Its cameo of the abjured one drewHer musings thereupon.
The gaud with his image once had beenA gift from him:And so it was that its carving keenRefurbished memories wearing dim,Which set in her soul a throe of teen,And a tear on her lashes’ brim.
“I may not go!” she at length upspake,“Thoughts call me back—I would still lose all for your dear, dear sake;My heart is thine, friend! But my trackI home to Athelhall must takeTo hinder household wrack!”
He appealed. But they parted, weak and wan:And he left the shore;His ship diminished, was low, was gone;And she heard in the waves as the daytide wore,And read in the leer of the sun that shone,That they parted for evermore.
She homed as she came, at the dip of eveOn Athel CoombRegaining the Hall she had sworn to leave . . .The house was soundless as a tomb,And she entered her chamber, there to grieveLone, kneeling, in the gloom.
From the lawn without rose her husband’s voiceTo one his friend:“Another her Love, another my choice,Her going is good. Our conditions mend;In a change of mates we shall both rejoice;I hoped that it thus might end!
“A quick divorce; she will make him hers,And I wed mine.So Time rights all things in long, long years—Or rather she, by her bold design!I admire a woman no balk deters:She has blessed my life, in fine.
“I shall build new rooms for my new true bride,Let the bygone be:By now, no doubt, she has crossed the tideWith the man to her mind. Far happier sheIn some warm vineland by his sideThan ever she was with me.”
Sign in to like, rate and collect poems, and keep track of what you've read.