| Arthur Quiller-Couch, comp. The Oxford Book of Victorian Verse. 1922. | | | | The Watcher | | By James Stephens (1882–1950) |
| | | A ROSE for a young head, | |
| A ring for a bride, | |
| Joy for the homestead | |
| Clean and wide— | |
| Who ’s that waiting | 5 |
| In the rain outside? | |
| |
| A heart for an old friend, | |
| A hand for the new: | |
| Love can to earth lend | |
| Heaven’s hue— | 10 |
| Who ’s that standing | |
| In the silver dew? | |
| |
| A smile for the parting, | |
| A tear as they go, | |
| God’s sweethearting | 15 |
| Ends just so— | |
| Who ’s that watching | |
| Where the black winds blow? | |
| |
| He who is waiting | |
| In the rain outside, | 20 |
| He who is standing | |
| Where the dew drops wide, | |
| He who is watching | |
| In the wind must ride | |
| (Tho’ the pale hands cling) | 25 |
| With the rose | |
| And the ring | |
| And the bride, | |
| Must ride | |
| With the red of the rose, | 30 |
| And the gold of the ring, | |
| And the lips and the hair of the bride. | | | | |
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