Love, to your face farewell now,
Pillowed a flower on flowers;
Eyes, white-weighed with a spell now;
Lips, with nothing to tell now,
That bade adieu to ours.
Dear, is your soul so daggered
There by a world that hates?
Love — is he ever laggard?
Hope — is her face so haggard?
You, who are one with the Fates?
Never to wait to-morrow
Under such worldly skies!
Never to sleep with sorrow!
Hour by hour to borrow
Joy that has only sighs!
Sweet, farewell forever;
And a burning tear or two —
Will they reach your knowledge ever,
And touch through the dreams that sever
My life from the life of you?
O Life, in my flesh so fearful
Medicine me this pain!
Thy eyes with a science cheerful,
But mine, with a mystery tearful,
Tearful and slumber-fain.
Love, to your lips farewell now —
Your spirit through them I kiss;
Lips — so sealed with a spell now!
Lips, with nothing to tell now
But this! but this! but this!...