An Answer Poem by Ina Coolbrith

THE wind was very sad among the branches,
The moon had hid its light;
I threw my window open to the darkness,
And looked out on the night;

And thought of all the dear old times together,
Days sweet for her sweet sake,
And all I lost in losing her; till, thinking,
My heart seemed like to break.

And O, I said, if I might have some token
She is, and yet is mine,
Though but a wind-tossed leaf, my soul would take it.
And bless it. for the sign.

And lo! a little wind sighed through the branches,
The moon shone on the land,
And cool and moist with the night dew, a leaflet
Fluttered against my hand!