What was it we swore? 'Evermore! I and Thou,' Ah, but Fate held the pen And wrote N Just before: So that now, See, it stands, Our seals and our hands, 'I and Thou, Nevermore!' We said 'It is best!' And then, dear, I went And returned not again. Forgive that I stir, Like a breath in thy hair, The old pain, 'Twas unmeant. I will strive, I will wrest Iron peace--it _is_ best. But, O for thy hand Just to hold for a space, For a moment to stand In the light of thy face; Translate Then to Now, To hear 'Is it Thou?' And reply 'It is I!' Then, then I could rest, Ah, then I could wait Long and late. XVII Canst thou be true across so many miles, So many days that keep us still apart? Ah, canst thou live upon remembered smiles, And ask no warmer comfort for thy heart? I call thy name right up into the sky, Dear name, O surely she shall hear and hark! Nay, though I toss it singing up so high, It drops again, like yon returning lark. O be a dove, dear name, and find her breast, There croon and croodle all the lonely day; Go tell her that I love her still the best, So many days, so many miles, away. _POSTSCRIPT_ _So sang young Love in high and holy dream Of a white Love that hath no earthly taint, So rapt within his vision he did seem Less like a boyish singer than a saint. Ah, Boy, it is a dream for life too high, It is a bird that hath no feet for earth: Strange wings, strange eyes, go seek another sky And find thy fellows of an equal birth. For many a body-sweet material thing, What canst thou give us half so dear as these? We would not soar amid the stars to sing, Warm and content amid the nested trees. Young Seraph, go and lake thy song to heaven, We would not grow unhappy with our lot, Leave us the simple love the earth hath given-- Sing where thou wilt, so that we hear thee not_. COR CORDIUM TO MY WIFE, MILDRED _Dear wife, there is no word in all my songs But unto thee belongs: Though I indeed before our true day came Mistook thy star in many a wandering flame, Singing to thee in many a fair disguise, Calling to thee in many another's name, Before I knew thine everlasting eyes. Faces that fled me like a hunted fawn I followed singing, deeming it was Thou, Seeking this face that on our pillow now Glimmers behind thy golden hair like dawn, And, like a setting moon, within my breast Sinks down each night to rest. Moon follows moon before the great moon flowers, Moon of the wild wild honey that is ours; Long must the tree strive up in leaf and root, Before it bear the golden-hearted fruit: And shall great Love at once perfected spring, Nor grow by steps like any other thing?_ COR CORDIUM _The lawless love that would not be denied, The love that waited, and in waiting died, The love that met and mated, satisfied.