Part 7 (1/2)

And that your heart excuses all, and that you will not fret Because you understand me now and never will forget.-- Now bring me roses pale and pure and tell me death's a lie, --Late was it hard for me to live, now it is hard to die.

PART V.

1.

Vased in her bedroom window, white As her glad girlhood, never lost, I smelt the roses; and the night Outside was fog and frost.

What though I claimed her dying there!

G.o.d nor one angel understood Nor cared, who from loved feet to hair Had changed to mist her blood.

Love, love had claimed us long, and long Our hearts sang harp-strung, late and soon; But G.o.d!--G.o.d jangles thus the song And makes discord of tune.

What lily lilier than her face!

More virgin than her lips I kissed!

When morn like G.o.d, with gold and grace Broke ma.s.sed in mist! broke ma.s.sed in mist!

2.

Love, to your face farewell now, Pillowed a flower on flowers; Eyes, white-weighed with a spell now; Lips, with nothing to tell now, That bade adieu to ours.

Dear, is your soul so daggered There by a world that hates?

Love--is _he_ ever laggard?

Hope--is _her_ face so haggard?

You, who are one with the Fates?

Never to wait to-morrow Under such worldly skies!

Never to sleep with sorrow!

Hour by hour to borrow Joy that has only sighs!

Sweet, farewell forever; And a burning tear or two-- Will they reach your knowledge ever, And touch through the dreams that sever My life from the life of you?

O Life, in my flesh so fearful Medicine me this pain!

Thy eyes with a science cheerful, But mine, with a mystery tearful, Tearful and slumber-fain.

Love, to your lips farewell now-- Your spirit through them I kiss; Lips--so sealed with a spell now!

Lips, with nothing to tell now But this! but this! but this!...

3.

So long it seems since last I saw her face, So long ago it seems, Like some sad soul, in unconjectured s.p.a.ce, Lost in the happiness of some dead grace Remembered--I. And, oh! a little while The sorrow stabs and Death conceals no smile From Love bowed weeping in a th.o.r.n.y place-- So long ago, our love is what are dreams!

Since she is gone no more I feel the light, Since she is gone beyond, Burst like a revelation out of night,-- Golden convictions of far futures bright,-- Whiles clouds around the west take marble tones; For Hope sits sighing in a place of stones, Dark locks dishevelled and face very white,-- Since she is gone and life's an iron bond.