Edna St. Vincent Millay (1892–1950). Renascence and Other Poems. 1917.
9. The Little Ghost
I
That in my garden walked;
The wall is high—higher than most—
And the green gate was locked.
Till after she was gone—
I knew her by the broad white hat,
All ruffled, she had on.
By her small hands that hung
In their lace mitts, austere and sweet,
Her gown’s white folds among.
What she would do—and oh!
She looked as if she liked the way
I let my garden grow!
With conscious garden grace,
She smiled and smiled—there was no hint
Of sadness in her face.
To let her slippers show,
And up the walk she went with pride,
The way great ladies go.
And is of ivy bare
She paused—then opened and passed through
A gate that once was there.