These Two

They are as young and chaste and cold

As two white birches near together;

They will not bend to autumn's gold

Nor to spring's passionate weather.

If a warm wind should suddenly come

To make them bow and faintly sing

It is slight tribute to the spring-

Soon they are motionless and dumb.

And having touched they rise again,

Amazed at the wind and the wind's desire,

Pale as birches after rain,

Cold as frost, and chaste as fire.