My letters! all dead paper, mute and white! And yet they seem alive and quivering Against my tremulous hands which loose the string And let them drop down on my knee to-night....
I see thine image through my tears to-night, And yet to-day I saw thee smiling. How Refer the cause? Belov'd, is it thou Or I, who makes me sad? The acolyte Amid the chanted joy and thankful rite...
Thou comest! all is said without a word. I sit beneath thy looks, as children do In the noon-sun, with souls that tremble through Their happy eyelids from an unaverred...
The first time that the sun rose on thine oath To love me, I looked forward to the moon To slacken all those bonds which seemed too soon And quickly tied to make a lasting troth....
Yes, call me by my pet-name! let me hear The name I used to run at, when a child, From innocent play, and leave the cowslips plied, To glance up in some face that proved me dear...
With the same heart, I said, I'll answer thee As those, when thou shalt call me by my name, Lo, the vain promise! is the same, the same, Perplexed and ruffled by life's strategy?...
Because thou hast the power and own'st the grace To look through and behind this mask of me, (Against which, years have beat thus blanchingly, With their rains,) and behold my soul's true face,...
If I leave all for thee, wilt thou exchange And be all to me? Shall I never miss Home-talk and blessing and the common kiss That comes to each in turn, nor count it strange,...
When we met first and loved, I did not build Upon the event with marble. Could it mean To last, a love set pendulous between Sorrow and sorrow? Nay, I rather thrilled,...
Pardon, oh, pardon, that my soul should make Of all that strong divineness which I know For thine and thee, an image only so Formed of the sand, and fit to shift and break....
First time he kissed me, he but only kissed The fingers of this hand wherewith I write; And ever since, it grew more clean and white. Slow to world-greetings, quick with its 'O, list,'...
Loving friend, the gift of one, Who, her own true faith, hath run, Through thy lower nature; Be my benediction said With my hand upon thy head, Gentle fellow-creature! ...