Poems (Van Rensselaer)/Shout Out

by Mariana Griswold Van Rensselaer

SHUT OUT

I
   O Love, why hast thou flown?
     Here is a heart,
   Its doors set wide apart
To welcome thee; it is thy home, thine own.

II
   O Heart, why dost thou call?
     I have my wings,
   And many a lurer sings.
How can I give to one the meed of all?

III
   Then, Love, I shut my door.
     Thou shalt not come;
   Here is not now thy home;
The fires die down, the lights shall burn no more.

IV
   Nay, Heart, I come again!
     I tire of flight;
   Open thy door to-night;
I lie without, in loneliness and pain.

V
   Nay, Love, it cannot be!
     My house is cold,
   And so I needs must hold
Close shut the door that bars thee out from me.