A Lover's Litanies

O thou refulgent essence of all grace! O thou that with the witchery of thy face Hast made of me thy servant unto death, I pray thee pause, ere, musical of breath, And rapt of utterance, thou condemn indeed My venturous wooing, and the wanton speed With which I greet thee, dear and tender soul! From out the fullness of my passion-creed.

I am so truly thine that nevermore Shall man be found, this side the Stygian shore, So meek as I, so patient under blame, And yet, withal, so minded to proclaim His life-long ardour. For my theme is just: A heart enslaved, a smile, a broken trust, A soft mirage, a glimpse of fairyland, And then the wreck thereof in tears and dust.
T hou wast not made for murder, yet a glance May murderous prove; and beauty may entrance, More than a syren's or a serpent's eye. And there are moments when a smother'd sigh May hint at comfort and a murmur'd No Give signs of Yes, and Misery's overflow Make tears more precious than we care to tell, Though, one by one, our hopes we must forego.

I should have shunn'd thee as a man may shun His evil hour. I should have curst the sun That made the day so bright and earth so fair When first we met, delirium through the air Burning like fire! I should have curst the moon And all the stars that, dream-like, in a swoon Shut out the day,—the lov'd, the lovely day That came too late and left us all too soon.
I look'd at thee, and lo! from face to feet, I saw my tyrant, and I felt the beat Of my quick pulse. I knew thee for a queen And bow'd submissive; and the smile serene Of thy sweet face reveal'd the soul of thee. For I was wounded as a man may be Whom Eros tricks with words he will not prove; And all my peace of mind went out from me.