Part 2 — THE WATCHER
Reading edition
A rose for a young head, A ring for a bride, Joy for the homestead Clean and wide— Who's that waiting In the rain outside?
A heart for an old friend, A hand for the new: Love can to earth lend Heaven's hue— Who's that standing In the silver dew?
A smile for the parting, A tear as they go, God's sweethearting Ends just so— Who's that watching Where the black winds blow?
He who is waiting In the rain outside, He who is standing Where the dew drops wide, He who is watching In the wind must ride (Though the pale hands cling) With the rose And the ring And the bride, Must ride With the red of the rose, And the gold of the ring, And the lips and the hair of the bride.
James Stephens [1882-