“THERE WILL BE SILENCE HERE, LOVE.”

There will be silence here, love, in the slow

Long summer months when there are none to break

The stillness with the laugh of those who wake

New-born each day to joy; and yet I know

The stillness cannot be so still, or grow

So deeply soundless, but that for my sake

The memory-haunted, lonely rooms will take

Some echo of my vanished voice;—even so,

Amid the scenes to which I have no choice

But go without thee, dearest, there will be

No gayety so gay, no glad light glee

Wherein with others I, too, must rejoice,

But through it all my heart will make for me

Silence, wherein I shall but hear thy voice.