The Stranger

(Eleven years)

Oh you spoil everything!

I am glad you are only my teacher—

My mother would know better:

She would not make me treat my friend badly as you do;

She would let me go to the Park and ride on the Merry-go-round with him;

Even if he is a sailor and a stranger he is grown-up and kind:

What harm can he do me? Would he beat me? Would he run away with me in his sloop? Would he murder me?

You shake your head and say nothing!

You have nothing to say—

And now you have spoiled everything.

You scared me so that when he came as he promised I edged away and hid my face and almost cried—

He couldn’t understand and of course he was hurt and went away

And I never shall see him again—

It is all spoiled.

And you spoiled it—by saying nothing—nothing—

You never say anything—

You never speak a true word.

(Fifteen years)

I shut my eyes and remember

He kissed me,

My playmate suddenly kissed me

Again and again—

Now I remember all I knew long ago....

And more.

Kisses take your breath, stab to the heart with sweetest, strangest pain;

Oh, you can grow faint under their sweetness—

What will the Bridal night be....

A rush through terror and fire and death

Into swift heaven.