Classic Poem

Love lifted eyes half craving, half a dream
Unto my eyes, and on my mouth his own
Laid like a scarlet flame, that would consume
The mortal screen and search the naked soul;
Softer his head drooped, deeper on my breast—
With one slow sigh as if appeased he slept,
But drew me closer unto him and said—
—‘Long after now, in some far time to come
When you recall the blindfold web we wove
Of hate and heaven, jealousy and tears,
The sweet hid satisfactions that were ours,
The sophistries of touch no angel lures
From lutes of other paradise—
Shall you remember thus? palm wed to palm,
The deep in-breathing each of each, till soul
And body knew no separating flaw,
And Night! Night that brought back to us the stars!
Shall you remember thus, or cruelties—
The careless wounds and perfidies of Love?’

Then I to Love—my mouth left barren from
His parching kiss, cried back—‘Thy cruelties!
To hurt was more Love's habit than to bless;
Stringing the heart to higher keys through pain.
But far from us such bitterness, to-night’—
And muted his insistence with my lips.
Speech drowned the while—in that lost interval
Love healed all hurt he ever gave, but left
Me troubled with a new, surpassing woe—
Trembling aslant my grave this perfect Now,
A spectral shadow of that far-off hour.