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

“To-day I Went among the Mountain Folk”

Olive Tilford Dargan

TO-DAY I went among the mountain folk

To hear the gentle talk most dear to me.

I saw slow tears, and tenderness that woke

From sternest bed to light a lamp for thee.

And “Is it true?” hope asked and asked again,

And “It is true,” was all that I could say,

And pride rose over love to hide gray pain

As eyes tears might ungrace were turned away.

So much they loved thee I was half decoyed

By human warmth to feel thee near, but when

I put my hand out all the earth was void,

And vanished even these near-weeping men.

Thus each new time I find that thou art gone,

Anew do I survive the world, alone.