Слике страница
PDF
ePub

If I spoke a word,

First of all

Up his cheek the colour sprung,

Then he heard.

IV.

Sitting by my side,

At my feet,

So he breathed but air I breathed,

Satisfied!

I, too, at love's brim

Touched the sweet:

I would die if death bequeathed

Sweet to him.

V.

"Speak, I love thee best !" He exclaimed:

"Let thy love my own foretell !”

I confessed:

"Clasp my heart on thine

"Now unblamed,

"Since upon thy soul as well

"Hangeth mine!"

VI.

Was it wrong to own,

Being truth?

Why should all the giving prove

His alone?

I had wealth and ease,
Beauty, youth:

Since my lover gave me love,
I gave these.

VII.

That was all I meant,

-To be just,

And the passion I had raised,

To content.

Since he chose to change

Gold for dust,

If I gave him what he praised
Was it strange?

VIII.

Would he loved me yet,

On and on,

While I found some way undreamed

-Paid my debt!

Gave more life and more,

Till all gone,

He should smile" She never seemed

"Mine before.

IX.

What, she felt the while,

"Must I think?

"Love's so different with us men!"

He should smile:

"Dying for my sake

"White and pink!

"Can't we touch these bubbles then

"But they break?"

x.

Dear, the pang is brief,

Do thy part,

Have thy pleasure! How perplexed

Grows belief!

Well, this cold clay clod

Was man's heart:

Crumble it, and what comes next?
Is it God?

[ocr errors][merged small][merged small]

OH, good gigantic smile o' the brown old earth,

This autumn morning! How he sets his bones To bask i' the sun, and thrusts out knees and feet For the ripple to run over in its mirth :

Listening the while, where on the heap of stones The white breast of the sea-lark twitters sweet.

II.

That is the doctrine, simple, ancient, true;

Such is life's trial, as old earth smiles and knows. If you loved only what were worth your love, Love were clear gain, and wholly well for you. Make the low nature better by your throes!

Give earth yourself, go up for gain above!

A WOMAN'S LAST WORD.

I.

LET 's contend no more, Love,

Strive nor weep:

All be as before, Love,

-Only sleep!

II.

What so wild as words are?

I and thou

In debate, as birds are,

Hawk on bough!

III.

See the creature stalking

While we speak!

Hush and hide the talking,

Cheek on cheek

IV.

What so false as truth is,

False to thee?

Where the serpent's tooth is,

Shun the tree

[blocks in formation]
« ПретходнаНастави »