Imagining

She saw herself a lady 
        With fifty frocks in wear,
And rolling wheels, and rooms the best, 
        And faithful maidens' care,
And open lawns and shady
        For weathers warm or drear.

She found herself a striver,
        All liberal gifts debarred,
With days of gloom, and movements stressed 
        And early visions marred, 
And got no man to wive her
        But one whose lot was hard.

Yet in the moony night-time 
        She steals to stile and lea
During his heavy slumberous rest
        When homecome wearily,
And dreams of some blest bright-time 
        She knows can never be.