Alone upon the pebbly strand Break ocean swell and pale moonbeam; The lovers are walking hand in hand From the bluff to where the gas-lamps stream; They reach the peopled colonnade: Trembling, she said, “Dear, I’m sure they all will know That you have dared to kiss me so.” The waltz floats through the casement low, And the lovers stand at the open door; The maid shyly whispers, “Will they know?” Her eyes seem fastened to the floor: Fond he looks down on the fair young face— “All will see That my arms are empty,” he said, “And no kisses cling to your lips so red.” They join the dancers’ merry whirl, The room is filled with beauties fair; With cheeks aflush and ruffled curl, My maiden dances with absent air; She fears that every one can tell. Yet, I trow, Only the lover and I could know Which was the girl that had been kissed so. THREE KISSES. Three, only three, my darling, Separate, solemn, slow; Not like the swift and joyous ones We used to know, When we kissed because we loved each other, Simply to taste love’s sweet, And lavished our kisses as the summer Lavishes heat; But as they kiss whose hearts are wrung, When hope and fear are spent, And nothing is left to give, except A sacrament! First of the three, my darling, Is sacred unto pain; We have hurt each other often, We shall again,— When we pine because we miss each other, And do not understand How the written words are so much colder Than eye and hand. I kiss thee, dear, for all such pain Which we may give or take; Buried, forgiven before it comes, For our love’s sake. The second kiss, my darling, Is full of joy’s sweet thrill; We have blessed each other always, We always will. We shall reach until we feel each other, Beyond all time and space; We shall listen till we hear each other In every place; The earth is full of messengers Which love sends to and fro; I kiss thee, darling, for all joy Which we shall know! The last kiss, O my darling— My love—I cannot see, Through my tears, as I remember What it may be. We may die and never see each other, Die with no time to give Any sign that our hearts are faithful To die, as live. Token of what they will not see Who see our parting breath, This one last kiss, my darling, seals The seal of death! TOO OLD FOR KISSES.