Within This Silver Box

Within this silver box, sea-cool and shining Set with hot blue of turquoise—blue as tropic skies— Locked out of sight upon the satin lining A faded tear-stained old love letter lies.

And she who gently laid it there for keeping— Long ere the furrowing years had taken toll, Before her spring had gone to summer's reaping— Left with it, locked away, her heart and soul.

And now that she is grey and often lonely, Now that the long deserted house is still And echoes to her little footsteps only That unregarded, go which way they will.

She takes the silver box in trembling fingers And sometimes—sometimes even turns the key— To see upon the satin, where rose perfume lingers, The old love letter as it used to be,—

Unchanged—unchanged—with youth forever flaming! The burning words shine from the yellowing page Herself and all her beauty ever claiming, Bidding defiance to both death and age.