Leave Taking

Leave Taking.
233.3

You, who do not know, stand by the door and watch from there,
Impatient at the long delay and foolish care
With which I take each little thing from its accustomed place-
The tiny clock, and old Satsuma vase,
The imaged Virgin and the Child,
And winsome Psyche who has smiled
At her brook-mirrored beauty-trifles, all-
And yet, and yet the hours that they recall!

To you who stand beside the door and watch from there,
Impatient at the long delay and foolish care,
I know the tender touch, the lingering hand
Are reasonless to you who do not understand.
And count the little room, at best, but a poor place
With meagre share of sunlight, lacking grace
Of rare, rich hangings that 80 subtly please
And charm the fancy and invite to ease-
You cannot know that here, that here was built a shrine
Where my soul worshiped, learning the divine
Sweet mystery of love, that ’tis the place
Where love lies buried. But I hide the trace
Of tear lest you should know.
The secret’s mine,
The secret of the grave and of the shrine.
Margaret Hannis.