The two Queens

A man went down the path of life,

And, where the vines were thick and green

And grapes hung waiting for the knife,

There smiled to him a queen.

Love lit the eyes beneath her brow,

His lips met hers a moment’s span;

He said, ‘My heart is glad, for now

I know I am a man.’

And, further on, among the corn,

Another queen whose eyes made dim

The very glory of the morn,

Held out her hand to him.

There was no time for speech or vow,

He kissed it, kneeling on the sod,

He said, ‘My soul is high, for now

I feel I am a god.’