It was too lonely for her there

And too wild

And since there were but two of them

And no child

And work was little in the house

She was free

And followed where he furrowed field

Or felled tree.

She rested on a log and tossed

The fresh chips

With a song only to herself

On her lips.

And once she went to break a bough

Of black alder.

She strayed so far she scarcely heard

When he called her—

And didn’t answer—didn’t speak—

Or return.

She stood and then she ran and hid

In the fern.

He never found her though he looked

Everywhere

And he asked at her mother’s house

Was she there.

Sudden and swift and light as that

The ties gave

And he learned of finalities

Besides the grave.