How would this end? And would her whole life change,
Swayed by this mastering sun as sways the moon?
Would all her way of life be new and strange,
Her friends be lost, her kin desert her soon?
Passion surged up in her, and in its swoon
These doubts were swept aside, obscure and fleeting;
Somewhere she heard a beating ... beating ... beating....
Was it her heart, the loud pulse in her ear,
Or music, some recurring undertone?—
The drums perhaps.... She raised her head to hear,
The beating ceased.... Only the tireless drone
Of toiling engines, and the sea’s hushed moan
Soft through the fast-shut port ... and that was all.
Steps passed and re-passed down the muffled hall.
Steps passed and re-passed on the deck above
Ringing like iron.... The curtains by her bed
Quivered forever to the engine’s move,
And from the lamp a quivering light was shed.
These senseless things, when all her life was dead,
Would still go on: steps pass, the curtains quiver,
These things or others,—they would last forever.
Quickly she rose, and in the mirror’s shine
Looked at herself a quiet moment’s space;
It was as if the earth’s autumnal wine
Had touched her soul,—her body had a grace
That passing life has, lovely was her face
With a strange loveliness, and in her eyes
Was the deep glory of October skies.
She was alive! her blood flew warm and young;
No more than this she knew, that she was fair;
And happiness through her deep heart was sung;
Passionate joy as light as flame in air;
O youth! O love, oblivious of all care!
O lithe swift-blooded youth, O rose of earth,
O warm-eyed loveliness of fragrant mirth!—
Giddy, with whirling thoughts, she left her room;
And down the corridor, with fainting feet,
Lightly she went, caught onward to sweet doom,
And only heard her heart’s loud tremulous beat;
Through opening doors, most plausible, most sweet,
The music rose to her; and he stood there,
Smiling, in all that noise and whir and glare....
Over the shining silver, sparkling glass,
The smooth white table-cloth, he leaned and smiled;
The whole world vanished, they were lad and lass,
In love, and face to face, hearts running wild.
Deep in her eyes he looked: O what a child!
Her soft breast rose and fell, her throat’s pure white
Beat with a little pulse of joy and fright.
No need to talk.... For in their eyes they met,
Treading an air so soft, so light, so fine,
That they were speechless, words they could forget;
They only smiled, and shyly sipped their wine,
And smiled again, and felt their full hearts shine,
Talked breathlessly a little, and longed to lean
Nearer, more near,—till no mote lay between,—
Not light or darkness, world or heaven or star,
Not wind, nor warm, nor cold ... but just they two
Meeting at last, two spirits come from far,
Face raised to face, white flowers made sweet with dew,—
Shining and passionate, and young and new,—
Their two warm bodies singing each to each,
Mingling at last in love’s harmonious speech....
The lights, the noise, the tumult passed away;
As in a dream without a sound they passed;
She only knew that it was wildly gay,
And shy, and bliss unbearable.... At last
Under the high dark starward-gliding mast
In grateful night they sat; he brought her coat
And trembling wrapped the scarf around her throat;