Harriet Monroe

Here you will find the Poem A Story of poet Harriet Monroe

A Story

He loved her and he was untrue? 
Untrue he was, let loved her still; 
For out of nether darkness drew 
The winds that lashed his wandering will. 

She lived in joy all unaware, 
In pain and joy his children bore, 
While hidden spectres of despair 
Drove him to love her more and more. 

And when she knew the truth at last, 
Suddenly she grew still and strange. 
Her rag of haggard youth was cast 
Upon the evil winds of change. 

She heard, and could not understand; 
She paled, and could not bloom again. 
So bland death took her by the hand, 
Looked in her eyes and made all plain, 

Yes, wise death taught her all, and so, 
Smiling once more, she kissed and passed. 
And he, caught in life's overthrow, 
Faced love and death alone at last.

At last, made strong by love and death, 
He gave her truth for truth, and knew 
Now she had won his perfect faith. 
Dying, she doomed him to be true.