Love'S Kiss

Kiss me but once--and in that space supreme My whole dark life shall quiver to an end, Sweet Death shall see my heart and comprehend That life is crowned--and in an endless gleam Will fix the colour of the dying stream That Life and Death may meet as friend with friend An endless immortality to blend; Kiss me but once, and so shall end my dream. And then Love heard me and bestowed his kiss, And straight I cried to Death: I will not die! Earth is so fair when one remembers this; Life is but just begun! Ah, come not yet! The very world smiles up to kiss the sky And in the grave one may forget--forget.