An Answer Poem by Ina D. 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!