VERBENA 
A Doubt. 
Gaze on!—If acted grief and joy 
Can win that willing heart of thine, 
Why—let her take the truant toy, 
It is not worthy mine! 
She challenges, with shameless art, 
A gazing world her soul to see: 
From fondest friends I veiled a heart, 
To keep it pure for thee! 
Oh God! the vision haunts my day, 
And makes a hateful day of night; 
With those disheveled locks of gold, 
That careless smile’s bewildering light, 
Why comes she ’twixt my heaven and me, 
That radiant child of grace and glee? 
Go! witch the world with smile and sigh, 
Thou priestess proud at Passion’s shrine 
I yield thee every heart save one , 
And that is all the world to mine! 
Ah! steal not ’twixt my heaven and me, 
Thou radiant child of grace and glee! 
F. S. 
