| Edmund Clarence Stedman, ed. (1833–1908). An American Anthology, 1787–1900. 1900. |
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| 1223. Deaf |
| | | By Henry Cuyler Bunner |
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| AS to a bird’s song she were listening, | |
| Her beautiful head is ever sidewise bent; | |
| Her questioning eyes lift up their depths intent— | |
| She, who will never hear the wild-birds sing. | |
| My words within her ears’ cold chambers ring | 5 |
| Faint, with the city’s murmurous sub-tones blent; | |
| Though with such sounds as suppliants may have sent | |
| To high-throned goddesses, my speech takes wing. | |
| Not for the side-poised head’s appealing grace | |
| I gaze, nor hair where fire in shadow lies— | 10 |
| For her this world’s unhallowed noises base | |
| Melt into silence; not our groans, our cries, | |
| Our curses, reach that high-removëed place | |
| Where dwells her spirit, innocently wise. | |
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