GLAD as that thrill some princely birth With hushed yet rapturous omen gracing, The stir, as from her palace forth The young fair queen came pacing. But here no pompous guard was set, No flattering concourse gathered round; The poor about her gate were met; The readiest place the poorest found. Like youthful angels, all alert The queen dispensed her bounteous load; On those whom keenest fates had hurt, Her earlier gifts bestowed. Her face the maniac's rage beguiled; She turned her now among the ring, And paused above a poor blind child The sweetest of her songs to sing. Kind gifts to some, kind words to more, Kind looks to each and all she gave, Which on with them through life they bore, And down into their grave. Around her feet the children crept, And kissed the grass those feet had trod, Whilst eyes that many a year had wept, With tears of gladness gemmed the sod. The chiming of the convent bells Called her at last away to prayer: Farewell she smiled on their farewells -- And turned; when, unaware, An old gray man with hands outspread She marked low bent on quivering knee; Over his brow she stooped and said, "A kiss is all I have for thee." | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...ON THE TOMBS IN WESTMINSTER ABBEY by FRANCIS BEAUMONT ON MY THIRTY-THIRD BIRTHDAY by GEORGE GORDON BYRON ASTROPHEL AND STELLA: 49 by PHILIP SIDNEY THE MAIMED DEBAUCHEE by JOHN WILMOT FRIENDS by WILLIAM BUTLER YEATS THE LINCOLN HOME by ZELLA ACKERMAN QUATRAIN: THE IRON AGE by THOMAS BAILEY ALDRICH |