Children of the Night

Charles Carville's Eyes

     A melancholy face Charles Carville had,
     But not so melancholy as it seemed, —
     When once you knew him, — for his mouth redeemed
     His insufficient eyes, forever sad:
     In them there was no life-glimpse, good or bad, —
     Nor joy nor passion in them ever gleamed;
     His mouth was all of him that ever beamed,
     His eyes were sorry, but his mouth was glad.

     He never was a fellow that said much,
     And half of what he did say was not heard
     By many of us:  we were out of touch
     With all his whims and all his theories
     Till he was dead, so those blank eyes of his
     Might speak them.  Then we heard them, every word.