| Harriet Monroe, ed. (1860–1936). Poetry: A Magazine of Verse. 1912–22. | | | | Two Women | | By Marjorie Allen Seiffert |
| | From “Gallery of Paintings”
TWO faint shadows of women were ascending | |
| The pathway of a desolate hill, | |
| Pale as moth-wings beneath the low-bending | |
| Sycamore branches, in the moonlight paler still. | |
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| “This one is dead,” said the moon; “her face is ashen, | 5 |
| She is dry as a withered leaf— | |
| What has she known of beauty or of passion | |
| To come by moonlight to the mountain of grief?” | |
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| “The other too is dead,” said the earth, “yet her feet are burning— | |
| I feel them hot and restless as blown fire. | 10 |
| She has known many paths, why is she turning | |
| Here, from the secret valley of desire?” | |
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| They passed, the moon paled, and from leafy places | |
| Morning crept forth. At last they came | |
| From the mountain of grief—women with tear-wet faces | 15 |
| Who had been withered leaf and shadow of flame. | | | | |
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