The Ghost's Petition

'There's a footstep coming: look out and see,'         'The leaves are falling, the wind is calling;     No one cometh across the lea.' -     'There's a footstep coming; O sister, look.' -         'The ripple flashes, the white foam dashes;     No one cometh across the brook.' -     'But he promised that he would come:         To-night, to-morrow, in joy or sorrow,     He must keep his word, and must come home.     'For he promised that he would come:         His word was given; from earth or heaven,     He must keep his word, and must come home.     'Go to sleep, my sweet sister Jane;         You can slumber, who need not number     Hour after hour, in doubt and pain.     'I shall sit here awhile, and watch;         Listening, hoping, for one hand groping     In deep shadow to find the latch.'     After the dark, and before the light,         One lay sleeping; and one sat weeping,     Who had watched and wept the weary night.     After the night, and before the day,         One lay sleeping; and one sat weeping -     Watching, weeping for one away.     There came a footstep climbing the stair;         Some one standing out on the landing     Shook the door like a puff of air -     Shook the door, and in he passed.         Did he enter? In the room centre     Stood her husband: the door shut fast.     'O Robin, but you are cold -         Chilled with the night-dew: so lily-white you     Look like a stray lamb from our fold.     'O Robin, but you are late:         Come and sit near me - sit here and cheer me.' -     (Blue the flame burnt in the grate.)     'Lay not down your head on my breast:         I cannot hold you, kind wife, nor fold you     In the shelter that you love best.     'Feel not after my clasping hand:         I am but a shadow, come from the meadow     Where many lie, but no tree can stand.     'We are trees which have shed their leaves:         Our heads lie low there, but no tears flow there;     Only I grieve for my wife who grieves.     'I could rest if you would not moan         Hour after hour; I have no power     To shut my ears where I lie alone.     'I could rest if you would not cry;         But there's no sleeping while you sit weeping -     Watching, weeping so bitterly.' -     'Woe's me! woe's me! for this I have heard.         Oh night of sorrow! - oh black to-morrow!     Is it thus that you keep your word?     'O you who used so to shelter me         Warm from the least wind - why, now the east wind     Is warmer than you, whom I quake to see.     'O my husband of flesh and blood,         For whom my mother I left, and brother,     And all I had, accounting it good,     'What do you do there, underground,         In the dark hollow? I'm fain to follow.     What do you do there? - what have you found?' -     'What I do there I must not tell:         But I have plenty: kind wife, content ye:     It is well with us - it is well.     'Tender hand hath made our nest;         Our fear is ended, our hope is blended     With present pleasure, and we have rest.' -     'Oh, but Robin, I'm fain to come,         If your present days are so pleasant;     For my days are so wearisome.     'Yet I'll dry my tears for your sake:         Why should I tease you, who cannot please you     Any more with the pains I take?'