I had for my winter evening walk—
No one at all with whom to talk,
But I had the cottages in a row
Up to their shining eyes in snow.
And I thought I had the folk within:
I had the sound of a violin;
I had a glimpse through curtain laces
Of youthful forms and youthful faces.
I had such company outward bound.
I went till there were no cottages found.
I turned and repassed them all slowly back.
And I saw through the lighted window-pane
How the girl’s eyes looked and the girl’s hair shone,
As she ran to the door to look out and see
The lamp that I carried across the snow.
