Dawn shakes the candle, shoots a flame
To light the wren and does not miss.
I search my memories and proclaim:
“May life be always fresh as this!”
Like a shot dawn rang through the night.
Bang-bang it went. In swooning flight
The wads of bullets flame and hiss.
May life be always fresh as this.
The breeze is at the door again.
At night he shivered, wanted us.
He froze when daybreak came with rain.
May life be always fresh as this.
He is astonishingly queer.
Why rudely past the gateman press?
Of course he saw “No entrance here”
May life be always fresh as this.
Still with a handkerchief to shake,
While mistress still, chase all about,—
While yet our darkness does not break.
While yet the flames have not gone out.