Caprice

I. she hung the cage at the window, “If he goes by,” she said, “He will hear my robin singing, And when he lifts his head, I shall be sitting here to sew, And he will bow to me, I know.” The robin sang a love-sweet song, The young man raised his head; The maiden turned away and blushed: “I ’m a fool!” she said, And went on broidering in silk A pink-eyed rabbit, white as milk. II. The young man loitered slowly By the house three times that day; She took her bird from the window: “He need not look this way.” She sat at her piano long, And sighed, and played a death-sad song. But when the day was done, she said, “I wish that he would come! Remember, Mary, if he calls To-night—I ’m not at home.” So when he rang, she went—the elf!— She went and let him in herself. III. They sang full long together Their songs love-sweet, death-sad, The robin woke from his slumber, And rang out, clear and glad. “Now go,” she coldly said, “’t is late;” And followed him—to latch the gate. He took the rosebud from her hair, While, “You shall not,” she said: He closed her hand within his own, And while her tongue forbade, Her will was darkened in the eclipse Of blinding love upon his lips.