A Leave-Taking

James Whitcomb Riley 1849 (Greenfield) – 1916 (Indianapolis)



She will not smile;
She will not stir;
I marvel while
I look on her.
The lips are chilly
And will not speak;
The ghost of a lily
In either cheek.

Her hair--ah me!
Her hair--her hair!
How helplessly
My hands go there!
But my caresses
Meet not hers,
O golden tresses
That thread my tears!

I kiss the eyes
On either lid,
Where her love lies
Forever hid.
I cease my weeping
And smile and say:
I will be sleeping
Thus, some day!

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Submitted on May 13, 2011

Modified on March 16, 2023

25 sec read
429

Quick analysis:

Scheme ABABCDCD CECEFXFX GHGHIJIJ
Closest metre Iambic dimeter
Characters 408
Words 86
Stanzas 3
Stanza Lengths 8, 8, 8

James Whitcomb Riley

James Whitcomb Riley was an American writer, poet, and best-selling author. During his lifetime he was known as the "Hoosier Poet" and "Children's Poet" for his dialect works and his children's poetry respectively. more…

All James Whitcomb Riley poems | James Whitcomb Riley Books

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