PALINODE

by: Thomas Bailey Aldrich (1836-1906)

HO is Lydia, pray, and who

Is Hypatia? Softly, dear,

Let me breathe it in your ear--

They are you, and only you.

And those other nameless two

Walking in Arcadian air--

She that was so very fair?

She that had the twilight hair?--

They were you, dear, only you.

If I speak of night or day,

Grace of fern or bloom of grape,

Hanging cloud or fountain spray,

Gem or star or glistening dew,

Or of mythologic shape,

Psyche, Pyrrha, Daphne, say--

I mean you, dear, you, just you.

• Pauline Pavlovna - Complete text of the play by Thomas Bailey Aldrich.
• Thomas Bailey Aldrich: Bibliography - A bibliography of Aldrich's poetic, prose, and dramatic works; includes a list of critical resources.
• Purchase books by Thomas Bailey Aldrich
• Search eBay! for Thomas Bailey Aldrich collectibles