In a still room at hush of dawn, br My Love and I lay side by side br And heard the roaming forest wind br Stir in the paling autumn-tide. br br I watched her earth-brown eyes grow glad br Because the round day was so fair; br While memories of reluctant night br Lurked in the blue dusk of her hair. br Outside, a yellow maple tree, br Shifting upon the silvery blue br With tiny multitudinou br s sound, br Rustled to let the sunlight through. br br The livelong day the elvish leaves br Danced with their shadows on the floor; br And the lost children of the wind br Went straying homeward by our door. br br And all the swarthy afternoon br We watched the great deliberate sun br Walk through the crimsoned hazy world, br Counting his hilltops one by one. br br Then as the purple twilight came br And touched the vines along our eaves, br Another Shadow stood without br And gloomed the dancing of the leaves. br br The silence fell on my Love's lips; br Her great brown eyes were veiled and sad br With pondering some maze of dream, br Through all the splendid year was glad. br br Restless and vague as a gray wind br Her heart had grown, she knew not why. br But hurrying to the open door, br Against the verge of western sky br br I saw retreating on the hills, br Looming and sinister and black, br The stealthy figure swift and huge br Of One who strode and looked not back.