ARIDITY
She looked unto the east and saw
A pallid stretch of sickly sea;
Unto the west she turned and met
The land’s aridity.
A bloodless wave of rising sun
Was flung across her open door;
It smote her like a slimy thing,
And crawled along the floor.
Her hands took up the weary round—
A colourless and common part.
Her stillborn hopes were buried in
The desert of her heart.
REUNION
Ah, hold me fast! What of the day?
I care not if the sun be dead,
Nor if the stars be gold or gray.
Nay, though the rising moon be red,
Our dawn is here, our night is past,
The world may fade—but hold me fast!
Ah, hold me fast! What of the years?
I care not if our youth be fled,
Nor that our drink be blood and tears,
And bitterness our daily bread.
Nay, though the flames of hell be cast—
They light thy face—ah, hold me fast!
LOVE HAS PASSED ALONG THE WAY
Love has passed along the way—
Lo! the doors have opened wide,
Hands have beckoned him to stay,
Hearts have fluttered to his side.
Let him loiter as he may,
Love has passed along the way.
Ah, what means the vacant room?
Ashes where the flames were red?
What the shudder in the gloom?
What the corpse upon the bed?
Break my heart as best it may,
Love has passed along the way.