page: 112
THE PATH THROUGH THE SNOW.
- BARE and sunshiny, bright and bleak,
- Rounded cold as a dead maid’s cheek,
- Folded white as a sinner’s shroud,
- Or wandering angel’s robes of cloud.—
- Well I know, well I know
- Over the fields the path through the snow.
- Narrow and rough it lies between
- Wastes where the wind sweeps, biting keen:
- Every step of the slippery road
- Marks where some weary foot has trod;
- Who’ll go, who’ll go
- After the rest on the path through the snow?
- They who would tread it must walk alone,
- Silent and steadfast—one by one:
- Dearest to dearest can only say,
- “My heart! I’ll follow thee all the way,
- As we go, as we go
- Each after each on this path through the snow.”
- It may be under that western haze
- Lurks the omen of brighter days;
- That each sentinel tree is quivering
- Deep at its core with the sap of spring,
- page: 113
- And while we go, while we go,
- Green grass‐blades pierce thro’ the glittering snow.
- It may be the unknown path will tend
- Never to any earthly end,
- Die with the dying day obscure,
- And never lead to a human door:
- That none know who did go
- Patiently once on this path through the snow.
- No matter, no matter! the path shines plain;
- These pure snow‐crystals will deaden pain;
- Above, like stars in the deep blue dark,
- Eyes that love us look down and mark.
- Let us go, let us go,
- Whither heaven leads in the path thro’ the snow.
