| |
| ALONG the frozen lake she comes | |
| In linking crescents, light and fleet; | |
| The ice-imprisoned Undine hums | |
| A welcome to her little feet. | |
| |
| I see the jaunty hat, the plume | 5 |
| Swerve birdlike in the joyous gale,— | |
| The cheeks lit up to burning bloom, | |
| The young eyes sparkling through the veil. | |
| |
| The quick breath parts her laughing lips, | |
| The white neck shines through tossing curls; | 10 |
| Her vesture gently sways and dips, | |
| As on she speeds in shell-like whirls. | |
| |
| Men stop and smile to see her go; | |
| They gaze, they smile in pleased surprise; | |
| They ask her name; they long to show | 15 |
| Some silent friendship in their eyes. | |
| |
| She glances not; she passes on; | |
| Her steely footfall quicker rings; | |
| She guesses not the benison | |
| Which follows her on noiseless wings. | 20 |
| |
| Smooth be her ways, secure her tread | |
| Along the devious lines of life, | |
| From grace to grace successive led,— | |
| A noble maiden, nobler wife! | |
| |
