Jessie Belle Rittenhouse Poems

I bargained with Life for a penny,
And Life would pay no more,

I looked through others' windows
On an enchanted earth,

I often passed the Door of Dreams
But never stepped inside,

I dare not look away
From beauty such as this,

Many birds will fly away
From the cages that I build,

Oh, had it been in Autumn, when all is spent and sere,
That the first numb chill crept on us, with its ghostly hint of fear,

I went out to the woods to-day
To hide away from you,

You came again, but silence
Had fallen on your heart,

O many and vain, Belovéd,
The words I spoke to you

There was a door stood long ajar
That one had left for me,

I am shut in as June goes by,
And can but see one little tree

Many birds will fly away
From the cages that I build,

I went to see a waterfall
When days were dull of song.