Vi

(In After Years to Him)

You say that love then led us--you and me? I say 'twas hate, that wore love's wanting eyes: Hate that I could not tear away the lies That wrapped you with their silken sorcery. Hate that for you I could not open skies Where beauty lives of her own loveliness; That God would give me no omnipotence To purge and mould anew your soul's numb sense. Aye, hate that I could love you not tho love Pent in me ached with passion-born distress-- While thro unfathomable dark the Prize Seemed sinking, as my soul, from heaven above. Love, say you? love? and hate rent us apart? I tell you hate alone so tears the heart.