Iii

Her dead face seems to rise up before him:

The face that I said farewell to, Pillowed a flower on flowers, Comes back, with its eyes to tell to My soul what my heart should quell to Calm, that is mine at hours.

Dear, is your soul still daggered There by something amiss? Love--is he ever laggard? Hope--is her face still haggard? Tell me what it is!

You, who are done with to-morrow! Done with these worldly skies! Done with our pain and sorrow! Done with the griefs we borrow! Joys that are born of sighs!

Must we say “gone forever?” Or will it all come true? Does mine touch your thought ever? And, over the doubts that sever, Rise to the fact that ’s you?

Love, in my flesh so fearful, Medicine me this pain!-- Love, with the eyes so tearful, How can my soul be cheerful, Seeing its joy is slain!...

Gone!--’t was only a vision!-- Gone! like a thought, a gleam!-- Such to our indecision Utter no empty mission;-- Truth is in all we dream!