The Blind Girl

If I might see his face to-day! -
He is so happy now! -To hear
His laugh is like a roundelay-
So ringing-sweet and clear!
His step-I heard it long before
He bounded through the open door
To tell his marriage. -Ah! so kind-
So good he is! -And I-so blind!

But thus he always came to me-
Me, first of all, he used to bring
His sorrow to-his ecstasy-
His hopes and everything;
And if I joyed with him or wept,
It was not long _the music_ slept,-
And if he sung, or if I played-
Or both,-we were the braver made.

I grew to know and understand
His every word at every call,-
The gate-latch hinted, and his hand
In mine confessed it all:
He need not speak one word to me-
He need not sigh-I need not see,-
But just the one touch of his palm,
And I would answer-song or psalm.

He wanted recognition-name-
He hungered so for higher things,-
The altitudes of power and fame,
And all that fortune brings:
Till, with his great heart fevered thus,
And aching as impetuous,
I almost wished sometimes that _he_
Were blind and patient made, like me.

But he has won! -I knew he would. -
Once in the mighty Eastern mart,
I knew his music only could
Be sung in every heart!
And when he proudly sent me this
From out the great metropolis,
I bent above the graven score
And, weeping, kissed it o'er and o'er. -

And yet not blither sing the birds
Than this glad melody,-the tune
As sweetly wedded with the words
As flowers with middle-June;
Had he not _told_ me, I had known
It was composed of love alone-
His love for _her_. -And she can see
His happy face eternally! -

While _I_-O God, forgive, I pray! -
Forgive me that I did so long
To look upon his face to-day! -
I know the wish was wrong. -
Yea, I am thankful that my sight
Is shielded safe from such delight: -
I can pray better, with this blur
Of blindness-both for him and her.

End of title

The Blind Girl

James Whitcomb Riley

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