Sara Teasdale, comp. (1884–1933).
The Answering Voice: One Hundred Love Lyrics by Women. 1917.

“I Must Not Yield”

Nora May French

I MUST not yield … but if he would not sing!

My stilling hands upon my breast can feel

Its answer tremble like a muted string.

Below the vaulted window where I kneel

He sings, he sings, to stars and listening skies.

A white and haunted place my garden seems.—

I see the pleading beauty of his eyes

As faces glimmer in a pool of dreams.

So wooing wind might sweep a harp awake.

(Oh, muting fingers on each quivering string!)

I must not yield … I think my heart will break.

Mother of Heaven, if he would not sing!