“TO-DAY I WENT AMONG THE MOUNTAIN FOLK”

To-day I went among the mountain folk To hear the gentle talk most dear to me. I saw slow tears, and tenderness that woke From sternest bed to light a lamp for thee. And “Is it true?” hope asked and asked again, And “It is true,” was all that I could say, And pride rose over love to hide gray pain As eyes tears might ungrace were turned away. So much they loved thee I was half decoyed By human warmth to feel thee near, but when I put my hand out all the earth was void, And vanished even these near-weeping men. Thus each new time I find that thou art gone, Anew do I survive the world, alone. Olive Tilford Dargan