POETRY.
GODIVA.
FROM the doorway when she crept, Head abased and hand that kept The shining shaking cloak around her, The golden cloak that light enwound her
Neck to knees, Lone she moved ; no other stirred, No forbidden foot she heard, No voice whispered as she passed 'Neath the morning shadow, east Like a darker cloak.
No eye in a wanton glimpse Sought the whiteness of her limbs, No look scorched her with its fire Covetous with wild desire As she rode.
All that silence was her praise, Eyes adored her when their gaze Sank beneath the throbbing lid. Glowed her beauty as she hid Beauty in her hair.
Neck to knees Golden cloaked she rode, and now Raised the brightness of her brow, Drooped no more the tenderest eyes Ever moist for miseries ; Proud sho looked.
Champed her horse the gilded bit, Tossed his gilded head with wit Of her gentleness, and paced Proud with her that now outfaced The sun's bright stare.
But one moment—one—she faltered, Fell her look, her face was altered.
Was it the wind in her hair 7 What unseen hand made a bare Roundness of her breast ?
Like a tree that hangs so still When no breath moves on the hill, So she hung ; then moved again, Along the silent eyeless lane Riding on As though thehorse moved with her thoughts And paused when some quick wonder caught
At her heart ; then, as she sighed,
Breathed anew with nostrils wide And stepping slow was gone.
Knew she it was I that stirred The golden cloak, my breath that bared Half the roundness of her breast ?
Mine the unseen lips that pressed Soft as rain ; My eye that burned with sudden heat And stung her thought with other sweet ?- Not the wind, but love's swift wild Fire invisible, undefiled, Pleading in love's tongue ? • In the hush a. bell clapped loud, Crawled a wan and anxious crowd' Up and down and wantoning Again. with hope, while children cling And whimper yet.
But in the Castle's sullen walls Godiva in a dark dream falls, Then shady-gowned sits with her Lord, Sick with thought and newly gored By his lust abhorred. JOHN' FREEMAN.
Previous page
