THE HAUNTED SHADOW

Fair Trees, O keep from chattering so

When I with my more fair do go

Beneath your branches;

For if I laugh with her your sigh

Her rare and sudden mirth puts by,

Or your too noisy glee will take

Persuasion from my lips and make

Her deaf as winter.

O be not as the pines — that keep

The shadow-charmèd light asleep —

Perverse and sombre!

For when we in the pinewood walked

And of young love and far age talked,

Their solemn haunted shadow broke

Her peace — ah, how the sharp sob shook

Her shadowed bosom!