{"product_id":"2940013054479","title":"The Ballad of the Quest","description":"excerpt: \u003cbr\u003eOn a desperate night—bitter black with pain,—\u003cbr\u003eMy soul returned to haunt me again.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eWe two kept vigil till break of day,\u003cbr\u003eBut the moon bore witness, I did not pray.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eI dreamt I drifted with a name on my lips,\u003cbr\u003eWhere the clouds were sea waves, and the stars little ships.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eI dreamt,—and lay on the shell-bitten sod,\u003cbr\u003eLike a thing that had been forgotten of God.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eI saw the smoke of the battle roll\u003cbr\u003eOver many a swift departing soul,—\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eBut when the dawn was a violet tide,\u003cbr\u003eA shadow came and knelt at my side.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eNo—not a shadow—or mystery—\u003cbr\u003eBut a rose of the darkness, she came to me.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eMist-grey was her gown, and about her head\u003cbr\u003eWas a shining band with a cross of red.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eHer eyes were closed, for she dared not see\u003cbr\u003eWhat the guns and the dark had made of me.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eSo I caught her gown in fear she would pass,\u003cbr\u003eLike a lovely shadow, across the grass.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"Who are you?\" I cried, \"who have found me here\u003cbr\u003eWhere I have lain, this year upon year?\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"No! No! but one night, beloved,\"—she said,\u003cbr\u003e\"While I searched for you all among the dead.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"But you were so strong you could not die,\u003cbr\u003eThough Azrael touched you as he passed by.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eAnd then by a flame that lit up the skies,\u003cbr\u003eI looked once again in Delilah's eyes.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThey had out-lived fear, and were sweet, and deep\u003cbr\u003eAs the eyes of an Angel, who bringeth sleep.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"O brave one!\" she said, \"You soon shall see\u003cbr\u003eFrom your thirst and your pain I can set you free!\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"Here! The water flask!—I will lift your head,—\u003cbr\u003eDrink if you will, and spare not,\" she said.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"Be patient, and wait! See here in your arm,\u003cbr\u003eThe poppies of God shall work their charm.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eSo she spoke, while her voice seemed faint and far\u003cbr\u003eAs though it drifted down from a star.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"I have come,\" she faltered, \"belovéd at last\"—\u003cbr\u003e\"Even so\"—I said, \"from the long-gone past.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"I would know,\" I cried, \"how you came to me\u003cbr\u003eThrough this hell where no woman should ever be?\"","brand":"Del Williams Media","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47069648748784,"sku":"2940013054479","price":0.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0737\/7593\/9824\/files\/2940013054479_p0.jpg?v=1763576387","url":"https:\/\/shop-qa.barnesandnoble.com\/products\/2940013054479","provider":"Barnes \u0026 Noble (DEV)","version":"1.0","type":"link"}