A stranger came to the door at eve, br And he spoke the bridegroom fair. br He bore a green-white stick in his hand, br And, for all burden, care. br He asked with the eyes more than the lips br For a shelter for the night, br And he turned and looked at the road afar br Without a window light. br br The bridegroom came forth into the porch br With, 'Let us look at the sky, br And question what of the night to be, br Stranger, you and I.' br The woodbine leaves littered the yard, br The woodbine berries were blue, br Autumn, yes, winter was in the wind; br 'Stranger, I wish I knew.' br br Within, the bride in the dusk alone br Bent over the open fire, br Her face rose-red with the glowing coal br And the thought of the heart's desire. br br The bridegroom looked at the weary road, br Yet saw but her within, br And wished her heart in a case of gold br And pinned with a silver pin. br br The bridegroom thought it little to give br A dole of bread, a purse, br A heartfelt prayer for the poor of God, br Or for the rich a curse; br br But whether or not a man was asked br To mar the love of two br By harboring woe in the bridal house, br The bridegroom wished he knew.