Leonainie--Angels named her; <br />And they took the light <br />Of the laughing stars and framed her <br />In a smile of white; <br />And they made her hair of gloomy <br />Midnight, and her eyes of bloomy <br />Moonshine, and they brought her to me <br />In the solemn night.-- <br /> <br />In a solemn night of summer, <br />When my heart of gloom <br />Blossomed up to greet the comer <br />Like a rose in bloom; <br />All forebodings that distressed me <br />I forgot as Joy caressed me-- <br />(LYING Joy! that caught and pressed me <br />In the arms of doom!) <br /> <br />Only spake the little lisper <br />In the Angel-tongue; <br />Yet I, listening, heard her whisper,-- <br />'Songs are only sung <br />Here below that they may grieve you-- <br />Tales but told you to deceive you,-- <br />So must Leonainie leave you <br />While her love is young.' <br /> <br />Then God smiled and it was morning. <br />Matchless and supreme <br />Heaven's glory seemed adorning <br />Earth with its esteem: <br />Every heart but mine seemed gifted <br />With the voice of prayer, and lifted <br />Where my Leonainie drifted <br />From me like a dream.<br /><br />James Whitcomb Riley<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/leonainie/
