Poets' Corner. ONLY A WOMAN.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume III, Issue 116, 16 July 1875, Page 6

Poets' Corner.

ONLY A WOMAN.

B¥ HBBTBB A. BBNIDXOT. Only a woman, shrivelled and old! Th« play of the winds and the prey of the cold ! Cheeks that are shrunken, Eyes that are sunken, Lips that were never o'erbold ; Only a woman, forsaken and. poor, Asking an alms at the bronze church door. Hark to the organ ! roll upon roll The waves of its music go over her soul Silks rustle past her, Thicker and faster ; The great bell ceases its toll, Fain would the enter, but not for the poor Swingeth wide open the bronxe church door. Only a woman ! waiting alone, Icily cold on an ice cold throne. What do they care for her ? Mumbling a prayer for her, Giring not bread, but a stone. Under old laces their haughty hearts beat, Mocking the woes of their kin in the street. Only a woman ! in the old days Hope carroled to her her happiest lays ! Somebody missed her, Somebody kissed her, Somebody crowned her with praise ; Somebody, faced up the battles of life, Strong for her sake who was mother or wife. Somebody lies with a tress of her hair Light on his heart where the death- shadows are Somebody waits for her, Opening the gates for her, Giving delight for despair. Only a woman — nevermore poor — Dead in the snow at the bronze church door.