Edmund Clarence Stedman, ed. (1833–1908). An American Anthology, 1787–1900. 1900.

By GertrudeHall

1523 The Dust

IT settles softly on your things,

Impalpable, fine, light, dull, gray:

Her dingy dust-clout Betty brings,

And singing brushes it away:

And it ’s a queen’s robe, once so proud,

And it ’s the moths fed in its fold,

It ’s leaves, and roses, and the shroud

Wherein an ancient saint was rolled.

And it is Beauty’s golden hair,

And it is Genius’ crown of bay,

And it is lips once warm and fair

That kissed in some forgotten May.…