Poems (Browning)/Rose Marie
Rose Marie slipped to the chimney,
To its welcome warmth and cheer.
To its welcome warmth and cheer.
Rose Marie
There's an attic dim with imprints
Of a weaver's magic loom,
And the touch of nimble fingers
Finds its tracing in the room,
Of a weaver's magic loom,
And the touch of nimble fingers
Finds its tracing in the room,
Violet tinted, shining silver,
With a fleeting glint of gold,
Thus the webs in fancy shimmer
To the springtime of the world.
With a fleeting glint of gold,
Thus the webs in fancy shimmer
To the springtime of the world.
But the hours were short in passing,
For the golden lingering sheen,
In its last caress of leaving,
Found the mists of years between.
For the golden lingering sheen,
In its last caress of leaving,
Found the mists of years between.
Time had hidden, long abiding,
Watching for its winter dawn;
Now the perfect rose is withered—
All too soon the dream has gone.
Watching for its winter dawn;
Now the perfect rose is withered—
All too soon the dream has gone.
In a corner, close imprisoned,
Idly stands a tiny chair;
'Twas the weaver's elfin fancy
That had woven round it there.
Idly stands a tiny chair;
'Twas the weaver's elfin fancy
That had woven round it there.
Guarded by the dim old rafters
Where no seeking eyes could view,
Gazing ever bold defiance,
Counting precious hours through,
Where no seeking eyes could view,
Gazing ever bold defiance,
Counting precious hours through,
Sat a doll in patient waiting,
Longing for the tender bliss
Of the little eager fingers,
And a childish trusting kiss;
Longing for the tender bliss
Of the little eager fingers,
And a childish trusting kiss;
Longing for the gentle smoothing®
Of a bit of yellowed lace
That adorned the worn old bonnet
And clung close beside her face.
Of a bit of yellowed lace
That adorned the worn old bonnet
And clung close beside her face.
When the elves and fairies scattered
Far and wide the gems of frost,
When the winds met at the corners,
And the sky was tempest tossed,
Far and wide the gems of frost,
When the winds met at the corners,
And the sky was tempest tossed,
Rose Marie slipped to the chimney,
To its welcome warmth and cheer;
But her patient eyes of watching
Always pierced the darkness there.
To its welcome warmth and cheer;
But her patient eyes of watching
Always pierced the darkness there.
Times the moon lamp was aflicker
With its bright beams on the floor,
For the moon light found an entrance
Through the battered attic door.
With its bright beams on the floor,
For the moon light found an entrance
Through the battered attic door.
Then high revelry transfigured
Every form but that worn doll,
Sad, yet patient with their frisking,
She remained aloof from all.
Every form but that worn doll,
Sad, yet patient with their frisking,
She remained aloof from all.
See the joyous passing pageant
Of the stately minuet,
Of the tiny measured foot steps,
And, O, lest I should forget,
Of the stately minuet,
Of the tiny measured foot steps,
And, O, lest I should forget,
Old witch Tess danced with her broom stick,
Sweet bride Bess a sailor had,
Flirting Mary caused much worry,
For she danced with every lad.
Sweet bride Bess a sailor had,
Flirting Mary caused much worry,
For she danced with every lad.
Many moons have waned their passing,
Many years have long since gone,
Many sands grim Time has counted,
Slowly dropping, one by one.
Many years have long since gone,
Many sands grim Time has counted,
Slowly dropping, one by one.
Once, where vain search failed revealing,
Where no seeking eyes could see,
There one day among the rafters,
There I found my Rose Marie.
Where no seeking eyes could see,
There one day among the rafters,
There I found my Rose Marie.
There I found a dim sweet vision,
O, it seemed 'twere yesterday
That I hung the pearls of childhood
In my heart, to live alway.
O, it seemed 'twere yesterday
That I hung the pearls of childhood
In my heart, to live alway.