| Thomas R. Lounsbury, ed. (1838–1915). Yale Book of American Verse. 1912. |
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| Lucy Larcom. 1826–1893 |
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| 163. Hannah Binding Shoes |
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| POOR lone Hannah, | |
| Sitting at the window, binding shoes: | |
| Faded, wrinkled, | |
| Sitting, stitching, in a mournful muse. | |
| Bright-eyed beauty once was she, | 5 |
| When the bloom was on the tree: | |
| Spring and winter, | |
| Hannah 's at the window, binding shoes. | |
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| Not a neighbor, | |
| Passing nod or answer will refuse, | 10 |
| To her whisper, | |
| "Is there from the fishers any news?" | |
| Oh, her heart 's adrift, with one | |
| On an endless voyage gone! | |
| Night and morning, | 15 |
| Hannah 's at the window, binding shoes. | |
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| Fair young Hannah, | |
| Ben, the sunburnt fisher, gayly woos: | |
| Hale and clever, | |
| For a willing heart and hand he sues. | 20 |
| May-day skies are all aglow, | |
| And the waves are laughing so! | |
| For her wedding | |
| Hannah leaves her window and her shoes. | |
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| May is passing: | 25 |
| 'Mid the apple boughs a pigeon cooes. | |
| Hannah shudders, | |
| For the mild southwester mischief brews. | |
| Round the rocks of Marblehead, | |
| Outward bound, a schooner sped: | 30 |
| Silent, lonesome | |
| Hannah 's at the window, binding shoes. | |
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| 'T is November, | |
| Now no tear her wasted cheek bedews. | |
| From Newfoundland | 35 |
| Not a sail returning will she lose, | |
| Whispering hoarsely, "Fishermen, | |
| Have you, have you heard of Ben?" | |
| Old with watching, | |
| Hannah 's at the window, binding shoes. | 40 |
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| Twenty winters | |
| Bleach and tear the ragged shore she views. | |
| Twenty seasons:— | |
| Never one has brought her any news. | |
| Still her dim eyes silently | 45 |
| Chase the white sails o'er the sea: | |
| Hopeless, faithful, | |
| Hannah 's at the window, binding shoes. | |
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