"The Two Angels"

"The Two Angels"

“Behold!” cried the angel the world names Care;

      “Here is a mortal asleep!

A maiden, young and graceful and fair—

      I will give her a gift to keep!”

“Nay, nay!” said the angel the gods name Love;

      “She is not meant for thee;

That throat like a lily, and breast like a dove,

      Surely belong to me. 

“Such beauty and innocence, I know,

      Are not to be spoiled by thee;

With this kiss on those blue-veined temples of snow

      I seal her unto me!”

So Love leaned down with an eager flush,

      Low o’er that lovely head,

And kissed on her cheek a deeper blush,

      On her lips a warmer red.

Then who will believe that I heard Care say,

      As he bent down pityingly:

“Where love has entered—and gone away—

      Is always a place for me.”

"The Two Angels" printed in an unidentified publication, clipping courtesy of the Ella Higginson Papers, Center for Pacific Northwest Studies, Heritage Resources, Western Washington University, Bellingham WA.