Our Skater Belle

Along the frozen lake she comes   In linking crescents, light and fleet; The ice-imprisoned Undine hums   A welcome to her little feet. I see the jaunty hat, the plume   Swerve birdlike in the joyous gale,— The cheeks lit up to burning bloom,   The young eyes sparkling through the veil. The quick breath parts her laughing lips,   The white neck shines through tossing curls; Her vesture gently sways and dips,   As on she speeds in shell-like whirls. Men stop and smile to see her go;   They gaze, they smile in pleased surprise; They ask her name; they long to show   Some silent friendship in their eyes. She glances not; she passes on;   Her steely footfall quicker rings; She guesses not the benison   Which follows her on noiseless wings. Smooth be her ways, secure her tread   Along the devious lines of life, From grace to grace successive led,—   A noble maiden, nobler wife!