When she came not

I thought I heard her when the wind would pass

Down through the pine trees and the tangled grass,

I thought I heard her tremulously near

When no sound was.

I thought I heard her little feet

Over the wave-washed pebbles beat

And that I need but lift mine eyes

And see her there without surprise.

I thought, alas!

That she was tremulously near

When no sound was,

And raised my head and threw my arms apart.

But she

Was nowhere 'twixt the forest and the sea.