The Return

They turned him loose; he bowed his head,

A felon, bent and grey.

His face was even as the Dead,

He had no word to say.

He sought the home of his old love,

To look on her once more;

And where her roses breathed above,

He cowered beside the door.

She sat there in the shining room;

Her hair was silver grey.

He stared and stared from out the gloom;

He turned to go away.

Her roses rustled overhead.

She saw, with sudden start.

“I knew that you would come,” she said,

And held him to her heart.