Poems (Clark)/Faithfulness

by Annie Maria Lawrence Clark

FAITHFULNESS

He came when the sweet spring blossoms
 Embroidered the robes of May,
And the glint of a softer sunshine
 Enraptured and gladdened my way;
He whispered the oft-told story,
 So old, and yet ever so new,
And while he asked me to trust him,
 Said he would be faithful and true.

I thought no roses so fragrant
 As the ones that bloomed that June,
'Twas the golden year of my lifetime,
 But it faded all too soon,
For ere the gorgeous beauty
 Of the autumn quite had past,
We said our farewell—alas! dear heart,
 I little thought 'twas our last.

Afar where Italia's sunsets
 Gild skies of the daintiest blue,
He went with the proud ambition
 His glorious work to do;
He said he would come to claim me,
 And I, oh! I still can but trust,
I cannot believe him faithless,
 Although they tell me I must.

I wear his ring on my finger,
 The pledge of his troth to me,—
The ring his proud old father brought
 From over the rolling sea.
They say the gems and the setting
 Ill match my humble dress—
What was it you were saying,—
 God has his own time to bless?

Was that what I said last evening?
 Ah! yes, and I'll you the rest,
All, how my sorrow has left me
 And joy is my welcome guest.
I was sitting, watching the shadows
 Creep down from the pines on the hill,
As if loth to touch the maples
 All aglow by the brookside mill.

And I thought, till through the stillness
 Somebody spoke my name;
Ah, well, last night was a picture,
 And God's love its golden frame,
He has come-but now I must leave you,
 For I hear his step in the hall,
You see it was well that I trusted,
 For he has proved true after all.