Anthology of Massachusetts Poets

<h2><SPAN name="chap04"></SPAN>THE RETURNING</h2> <p class="poem"> We long for her, we yearn for her&mdash;<br/> Yes, ardently we yearn<br/> For her return.<br/> Recalling those beloved days<br/> (Days intimate with ways<br/> Of friends so near to us<br/> And life so dear to us),<br/> We yearn unspeakably for her return.<br/> <br/> And come she must… Yet while we trust<br/> We soon may see the passing of this agony<br/> Which makes intrusive years still seem<br/> A fearsome dream,<br/> We know that when she comes<br/> She really comes not back again.<br/> <br/> She&rsquo;ll come in other guise<br/> And under fairer skies&mdash;<br/> And yet to bitter pain!<br/> <br/> That day she went away<br/> Our homes with laughing youth were filled.<br/> Where then was happiness<br/> Is now distress,<br/> The laughter stilled;<br/> For when she left<br/> Youth followed her&mdash;<br/> We stay bereft.<br/> <br/> So all our golden joy<br/> For what she brings<br/> Must carry gray alloy:<br/> The sorrow that she can not lay,<br/> The mysery that she can not stay&mdash;<br/> While all the gladsome songs she sings<br/> Must bear for undertones<br/> Old sighs and echoed moans.<br/> <br/> As they who go away<br/> In flush of youth<br/> May come quite worn and gray<br/> And bringing naught but ruth&mdash;<br/> So, when the strife shall cease,<br/> And when she comes at last,<br/> When all the armies vast<br/> Shall at her feet<br/> Kneel down to greet<br/> Thrice welcome Peace,<br/> This world will be so changed<br/> (So many dear ones dead,<br/> So many friends estranged,<br/> So many blessings fled,<br/> So many wonted ways forever barred,<br/> So many coming days forever marred)<br/> That then<br/> She truly comes not back again&mdash;<br/> She, the Peace we knew.<br/> <br/> Yet how we long for her!<br/> How ardently we yearn<br/> For her return!<br/></p> <p class="left"> SYLVESTER BAXTER</p> <div style="break-after:column;"></div><br />