Classic Poem

'Tis only at times I know how much my spirit loves thee.—
When a brief sudden strain of heavenliest music moves me
And thrills my soul to tears,
I see my love designed and shadowed out before me
And see its power and force still fierce and urgent o'er me
Beyond the furthest years.

It is as if God knew by briefest glimpses only
The wonders of his worlds—the measureless weird lonely
Star-space,—as if the dim
Vast legions of his flowers defiled in ranks amazing
Once in a thousand years, with spears and petals blazing
Sunlike in front of him.

It is as if the sea spake once in voice of thunder
To God its Maker and Lord, and God was wrapt in wonder
Even at the sea his child:
Then spake not thus again for centuries long and weary,
Lapping along time's shores with whisper grey and dreary,
No more stern-voiced and wild.

Even so I see my love spread out at times before me
And awe and trembling dread and deep delight fall o'er me
To think that time will cease
And pain and death will end, and star on star grow tired,
Ere thou shalt fail to be by my whole soul desired,—
Ere love's strife end in peace.