She leaned out into the soft June weather, <br /> With her long loose tresses the night breeze played; <br />Her eyes were as blue as the bells on the heather: <br /> Oh, what is so fair as a fair young maid! <br /> <br />She folded her hands, like the leaves of a lily, <br /> 'My life, ' she said, 'is a night in June, <br />Fair and quiet, and calm and stilly; <br /> Bring me a change, O changeful moon! <br /> <br />'Who would drift on a lake forever? <br /> Young hearts weary - it is not strange, <br />And sigh for the beautiful bounding river; <br /> New moon, true moon, bring me a change! ' <br /> <br />The rose that rivalled her maiden blushes <br /> Dropped from her breast, at a strangers feet; <br />Only a glance; but the hot blood rushes <br /> To mantle a fair face, shy and sweet. <br /> <br />To and fro, while the moon is waning, <br /> They walk, and the stars shine on above; <br />And one is in earnest, and one is feigning - <br /> Oh, what is so sweet as a sweet young love? <br /> <br />A young life crushed, and a young heart broken, <br /> A bleak wind blows through the lovely bower, <br />And all that remains of the love vows spoken - <br /> Is the trampled leaf of a faded flower. <br /> <br />The night is dark, for the moon is failing - <br /> And what is so pale as a pale old moon? <br />Cold is the wind through the tree tops wailing - <br /> Woe that the change should come so soon.<br /><br />Ella Wheeler Wilcox<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/the-change/
