Sara Teasdale, comp. (1884–1933).
The Answering Voice: One Hundred Love Lyrics by Women. 1917. | | | | To a Late Comer | | By Julia C. R. Dorr |
| | | WHY didst thou come into my life so late? | |
| If it were morning I could welcome thee | |
| With glad all-hails, and bid each hour to be | |
| The willing servitor of thine estate, | |
| Lading thy brave ships with Time’s richest freight; | 5 |
| If it were noonday I might hope to see | |
| On some fair height thy banners floating free, | |
| And hear the acclaiming voices call thee great! | |
| But it is nightfall and the stars are out; | |
| Far in the west the crescent moon hangs low, | 10 |
| And near at hand the lurking shadows wait; | |
| Darkness and silence gather round about, | |
| Lethe’s black stream is near its overflow,— | |
| Ah, friend, dear friend, why didst thou come so late? | | | | |
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