For Marie

Here is the spot where Joy passed by,
And never smiled at me;
I lingered near the hillside road
And waited, tremblingly.

My heart was all a-thrill with hope. ...
His coming seemed so long
That, half-afraid, I sang aloud
To lose my fear in song.

Oh, when at last I saw his face
It was as if the sun
Had shed a glory on the world
Before the night was done!

Because I could not speak or see,
Because from other lands
I thought that Joy had come to me
I held out both my hands;

And sheer delight within my heart
Sang paeans, silently —
He came so close — but on he passed!
And did not smile at me.

Oh, when I knew that he had gone
The world grew dark again,
And weary, then, and old was I,
Who waited there in vain. ...
I wonder if his kiss had been
As sweet as my long pain.