Edmund Clarence Stedman, ed. (1833–1908). An American Anthology, 1787–1900. 1900.

By GeorgePellew

1365 On a Cast from an Antique

HEADLESS, without an arm, a figure leans

By something vaguely Greek,—a fount, an urn;

Dim stairs climb past her where one’s thoughts discern

A temple or a palace. Some great queen’s

Daughter art thou? or humbly one of those

Who serve a queen? Is this the sacred thing

That holds thy child, thy husband, or thy king?

Or lightly-laughing water? No one knows.

A woman once, now merely womanhood,

In gentle pose of un-selfconscious dream

That consecrates all ministry of love.

Gone are thy temples and the gods thereof,

But through the ruin of centuries sublime

Heart speaks to heart, and still is understood.