Love’s twilight wanes in heaven above,
On earth ere twilight reigns:
Ere fear may feel the chill thereof,
Love’s twilight wanes.
Ere yet the insatiate heart complains
‘Too much, and scarce enough,’
The lip so late athirst refrains.
Soft on the neck of either dove
Love’s hands let slip the reins:
And while we look for light of love
Love’s twilight wanes.
A SINGING LESSON.
Far-fetched and dear-bought, as the proverb rehearses,
Is good, or was held so, for ladies: but nought
In a song can be good if the turn of the verse is
Far-fetched and dear-bought.
As the turn of a wave should it sound, and the thought
Ring smooth, and as light as the spray that disperses
Be the gleam of the words for the garb thereof wrought.
Let the soul in it shine through the sound as it pierces
Men’s hearts with possession of music unsought;
For the bounties of song are no jealous god’s mercies,
Far-fetched and dear-bought.
FLOWER-PIECES.
I.
LOVE LIES BLEEDING.
Love lies bleeding in the bed whereover
Roses lean with smiling mouths or pleading:
Earth lies laughing where the sun’s dart clove her:
Love lies bleeding.