One grew pale lilies in the shade, And lady-like, attended mass; She thought black gloves and bonnets made To curb desire, and shield the lass. One laughed and loved with Life, and trod Her hills and fields in sun and rain, Grew happy when the fertile sod Would yield, and stock grew fat with grain. The other with tight lips repressed All worldly joys; with pious look She'd mold wild tumults in a breast To patterns of an ancient book. One sprayed her pillows with perfume, Gave festivals ... the village came, She placed sweet rose jars in each room, Remembering when her heart was flame. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...ON A PROPOSED TRIP SOUTH by WILLIAM CARLOS WILLIAMS MEMORABILIA by ROBERT BROWNING THE EVENING WIND by WILLIAM CULLEN BRYANT SANDALPHON by HENRY WADSWORTH LONGFELLOW THE BELLS OF LYNN; HEARD AT NAHANT by HENRY WADSWORTH LONGFELLOW THE FIFTEEN ACRES by JAMES STEPHENS STANZAS OCCASIONED BY THE DEATH OF H-- A-- by BERNARD BARTON |