The love of your life, in your heart’s hid shrine, With its gifts and its torments, leave it sighing, And I will bury the pain of mine In the selfsame grave where its joy is lying. Let me hold your hand for a quiet hour In the wild thyme’s scent and the clear blue weather, Then come what may, we have plucked one flower, This hour on the downs alone together. SONG OF LONG AGO Long ago, long ago, When the hawthorn buds were pearly And the birds sang, late and early, All the songs that lovers know, How we lingered in the lane, Kissed and parted, kissed again, Parted, laggard foot and slow! What a pretty world we knew Dressed in moonlight, dreams and dew, Long ago, my first sweet sweetheart, Long ago! Long ago, long ago, When the wind was on the river Where the lights and shadows shiver, And the streets were all aglow. In the gaudy gas-lit street We two parted, sweet, my sweet, And the crowd went to and fro, And your veil was wet with tears For the inevitable years-- Long ago, my last sweet sweetheart, Long ago! IN ECLIPSE Pale veil of mist bound round the trees Pale fringe of rain upon the hills, Cold earth, cold sky and biting breeze That mock the withered daffodils. And yet so short a while ago, The sunlight on the quickened land Laughed at the memory of the snow, And we went hand in hand. Pale veil of doubt wound round my heart, Pale fringe of tears upon your eyes; Why did we choose the evil part? Why did we leave our Paradise? There were such green and pleasant ways Where you and I with happy heart Laughed at the old unhappy days, And now--we are apart. Will the sun shine again some day? Will you forgive me and forget? Chill is the east, the west is gray, And all our world with tears is wet. Ah! love, the world is wide and cold, The weary skies are wild with rain; Give me at least your hand to hold Till the sun shines again. SPECIAL PLEADING The world’s a path all fresh and sweet, A sky all fresh and fair, With daisies underneath your feet And roses for your hair; Red roses for your pretty hair, Green trees to shade your way, And lavish blossoms everywhere, Because the time is May. How gold the sun shines through the green! How soft the turf is spread! How richly falls the shimmering sheen About your darling head! How in the dawn of Paradise Should you foresee the night? How, with the sunlight in your eyes, See aught beyond the light? * * * * *