Spinsterhood.

Alone, alone, in the twilight gray,             In the shadows so dark and dim,         I watch through all of the weary hours,             And I wait with my heart for him;         For him who'll come, when he comes at all,             As my king and warrior bold;         Whose form so tall is my fortress wall             And whose heart is a chunk of gold.         Again, again, do I dream the dreams,             All the dreams that my young heart knew,         And through my soul do the yearnings thrill             As of old they were wont to do;         I know in truth when his face I see,             I shall fall at his shining feet,         Where'er it be and whoever is he,             In the light of his glances sweet.         I wait in vain for the sounds that rise             From the tread of his horse's hoof,         And still the mists hide his form away             And forever he stays aloof;         His shining face and his eyes so bright             In the shades of the distance hide,         And out of the night with the stars bedight             He hath never approached my side!         O, years, O, wonderful tide of years,             From the shadows of time set free         My king, my lover, my life, and bring             To my heart what is most of me!         Somewhere in pain do his yearnings grope             For the joys that my love would bring;         O, up the slope of his life-long hope,             Guide the feet of my royal king!