Hollow rang the house when I knocked on the door, <br />And I lingered on the threshold with my hand <br />Upraised to knock and knock once more: <br />Listening for the sound of her feet across the floor, <br />Hollow re-echoed my heart. <br /> <br />The low-hung lamps stretched down the road <br />With shadows drifting underneath, <br />With a music of soft, melodious feet <br />Quickening my hope as I hastened to meet <br />The low-hung light of her eyes. <br /> <br />The golden lamps down the street went out, <br />The last car trailed the night behind; <br />And I in the darkness wandered about <br />With a flutter of hope and of dark-shut doubt <br />In the dying lamp of my love. <br /> <br />Two brown ponies trotting slowly <br />Stopped at a dim-lit trough to drink: <br />The dark van drummed down the distance slowly; <br />While the city stars so dim and holy <br />Drew nearer to search through the streets. <br /> <br />A hastening car swept shameful past, <br />I saw her hid in the shadow, <br />I saw her step to the curb, and fast <br />Run to the silent door, where last <br />I had stood with my hand uplifted. <br />She clung to the door in her haste to enter, <br />Entered, and quickly cast <br />It shut behind her, leaving the street aghast.<br /><br />David Herbert Lawrence<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/perfidy/
