Glenn Ward Dresbach

I SAW a grown girl coming down

The field with water for the men.

Her hair fell golden in the wind—

She stopped and bound it up again.

Her thin dress by the wind was pressed

(Was it in passion or in play?)

Against the full growth of her breast….

The men looked up. She looked away.

You saw me staring at the girl

And then you stared at me.

Why did you come so close and kiss

My lips so passionately?

I would not have you quite so young

Or quite so shy as she!

III

A gypsy passed me with a song

Where men went out to sow,

And he went down the winding road

Where the maples grow.

And still his song came back to me

When he was far away:

“The Flask holds but a pint of wine—

Tomorrow is Today!

“My love has made a tent for me

From stars above the hill—

Go break your heart, and build yourself

A stone house, if you will!”

I would build myself a house

On this mountain top today,

Not to shun the world, or feel

It was shutting me away,

But that I might come at times

Little things had baffled me,

And look out, at set of sun,

On immensity.