Classic Poem

Love came to the Unlighted House
When all the world was dark and mute
As some dust-covered, stringless lute;
The bare trees shivered in the cold—
Poor trees that once knew flower and fruit;
On either hand lay heaped the snow
When silently as cravens go,
Love came to the Unlighted House.

Love came to the Unlighted House—
The windows stared like dead men's eyes
Set wide in unexplained surprise
Unkindled by the soul within;
The wide door closed on secrecies;
There came no sign to greet this guest
When in that hour unloveliest
Love came to the Unlighted House.

Love came to the Unlighted House
And raised the latch and entered there,
And room on room was coldly bare;
Cold ashes whitened on the hearth;
The dust lay white on floor and stair;
The silence threatened and appalled
When thus, unwelcomed and uncalled,
Love came to the Unlighted House.

Love came to the Unlighted House—
A guest who tarried on his ways
Too many nights, too many days—
A guest despaired of and forgot.
Time hastens whilst a god delays.
To empty rooms and desolate,
Penitent, wistful, over-late,
Love came to the Unlighted House.