Shadows (Howe)/The Poet's Door
THE POET'S DOOR
ITHIN the circle of the lightWe sat alone, and all the roomBeyond the lamp was full of night And hung about with shadowed gloom.With love and music in his voice He read me from his lyric pageThe sweetest numbers of his choice, Songs of a blended youth and age.
Then telling forth another's song, Music and love rang doubly clear;The same soft cadence on his tongue Brought distant minstrelsy so near.
And to the doorway, strange and dim, I thought a mystic presence came With glowing mien, and gazed at him That read, and gently spoke his name,
And said, "Hail, fellow soul of man, For here thy kindred voice at lastFulfils the song I once began;" Then back into the darkness passed.