Poems (Browning)/Rose Marie
Rose Marie slipped to the chimney, To its welcome warmth and cheer.
Rose Marie
There's an attic dim with imprints Of a weaver's magic loom,And the touch of nimble fingers Finds its tracing in the room,
Violet tinted, shining silver, With a fleeting glint of gold,Thus the webs in fancy shimmer To the springtime of the world.
But the hours were short in passing, For the golden lingering sheen,In its last caress of leaving, Found the mists of years between.
Time had hidden, long abiding, Watching for its winter dawn;Now the perfect rose is withered— All too soon the dream has gone.
In a corner, close imprisoned, Idly stands a tiny chair;'Twas the weaver's elfin fancy That had woven round it there.
Guarded by the dim old rafters Where no seeking eyes could view,Gazing ever bold defiance, Counting precious hours through,
Sat a doll in patient waiting, Longing for the tender blissOf the little eager fingers, And a childish trusting kiss;
Longing for the gentle smoothing® Of a bit of yellowed laceThat adorned the worn old bonnet And clung close beside her face.
When the elves and fairies scattered Far and wide the gems of frost,When the winds met at the corners, And the sky was tempest tossed,
Rose Marie slipped to the chimney, To its welcome warmth and cheer;But her patient eyes of watching Always pierced the darkness there.
Times the moon lamp was aflicker With its bright beams on the floor,For the moon light found an entrance Through the battered attic door.
Then high revelry transfigured Every form but that worn doll,Sad, yet patient with their frisking, She remained aloof from all.
See the joyous passing pageant Of the stately minuet,Of the tiny measured foot steps, And, O, lest I should forget,
Old witch Tess danced with her broom stick, Sweet bride Bess a sailor had,Flirting Mary caused much worry, For she danced with every lad.
Many moons have waned their passing, Many years have long since gone,Many sands grim Time has counted, Slowly dropping, one by one.
Once, where vain search failed revealing, Where no seeking eyes could see,There one day among the rafters, There I found my Rose Marie.
There I found a dim sweet vision, O, it seemed 'twere yesterdayThat I hung the pearls of childhood In my heart, to live alway.