Love and a Question

 A stranger came to the door at eve, 
And he spoke the bridegroom fair.
 
He bore a green-white stick in his hand, 
And, for all burden, care.
 
He asked with the eyes more than the lips 
For a shelter for the night, 
And he turned and looked at the road afar 
Without a window light.
 

The bridegroom came forth into the porch 
With, 'Let us look at the sky, 
And question what of the night to be, 
Stranger, you and I.
' 
The woodbine leaves littered the yard, 
The woodbine berries were blue, 
Autumn, yes, winter was in the wind; 
'Stranger, I wish I knew.
' 

Within, the bride in the dusk alone 
Bent over the open fire, 
Her face rose-red with the glowing coal 
And the thought of the heart's desire.
 

The bridegroom looked at the weary road, 
Yet saw but her within, 
And wished her heart in a case of gold 
And pinned with a silver pin.
 

The bridegroom thought it little to give 
A dole of bread, a purse, 
A heartfelt prayer for the poor of God, 
Or for the rich a curse; 

But whether or not a man was asked 
To mar the love of two 
By harboring woe in the bridal house, 
The bridegroom wished he knew.

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