When curfew-bells begin,
And the log-fire hisses,
I covered Jeannie in
From head to foot with kisses.

There, in the glow
And flicker of the ingle,
I gave her for to know
How a man loves single:

I gave her for to know,
When the heart needs mating,
How hard a road to go
Was the long lone waiting.

Her face was all a mist,
Her dear eyes tear-laden,
To find herself so kissed,
And man so love a maiden.

Ah! but she did love!
With kind lips so quiet,
While my heart above
Was all storm and riot.

And looking deep I saw,
In all its woman's meaning,
How her heart would draw
My heart to have its leaning.

For my heart was fain,
Oh, fain to be a-mating;
But hers saw the pain
Of the long lone waiting.

So there, in the light,
Beside the dying ember,
I gave her all that night
My kisses to remember.
…

A cold dawn came;
Then parted our embraces;
We blew the ash to flame
On tear-wet faces;

We drank the last cup
And we shared the last platter;
And pale the light went up,
And the birds began to chatter.

And then she oped the door,
And there I left her standing,
As I went down to the shore
To the ship beside the landing.

And far out from the sea
I saw the white shawl flutter,
As her hand waved to me
The thoughts she could not utter.

Oh! a man's love is strong
When fain he comes a-mating.
But a woman's love is long
And grows when it is waiting.