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Classic and Contemporary Poetry


TWO LIVES. PART 1: 5 by WILLIAM ELLERY LEONARD

First Line: I MET HER FIRST, HALF-TURNING UP THE STAIR
Last Line: SHE SPOKE, AND ALMOST LAUGHINGLY DREW NEAR.

I met her first, half-turning up the stair,
Her foot just lifted from the rug in hall.
She stopped, as timid at her father's call.
He introduced me. She pushed back her hair
With one hand, struggling long to play the host,
Though silent, and, as if afraid to fall,
She clung and leaned against the newel-post
With the other . . . girl-and-woman lithe and tall,
In flowing saffron muslin. With full throat
And large black lashes over large blue eyes,
A queen of ladies . . . what had she to fear?
And when I thanked her, with an anecdote
And kindly jest, for household courtesies,
She spoke, and almost laughingly drew near.



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