Our treasures hardly seemed our own,
And barren our adventures were
Till comrades shared them:--one alone
I could not share.
We had no aims nor joys apart,
No secret we could long withhold:
One only, hidden in my heart,
I kept untold.
I see the little village church,
The faces that we used to know,
The parson in his pulpit-perch,
The clerk below;
The bare grey walls, the windows dim,
The crystal stains that filtered through
The golden wings of seraphim,
The robes of blue.
A sudden ray of sunshine fell
Soft on a little maiden’s hair,
And, lo! a joy I dared not tell,
And could not share.
My treasure hardly seemed my own,
My secret joy a burden grew,
In fear lest others had been shown
Its wonder too.
Her heart my secret never guessed;
And she is gone,--I know not where,
And now with those who loved her best
The loss I share.