University of Virginia Library


5

II
“POWERS SUPREMER”

Most strange, if woman's wondrous form we know
So sweet on earth should be alone indeed
In its pure beauty,—shaped, designed, decreed,
O'er all the marvelling heavens her spell to throw.
Perchance on not one other globe could grow
The flowers whose fragrant force the star-hosts need.
Here, here alone, can fail or can succeed
Love's dream. Here passion's foam-white torrents flow.
Most strange, most grand! when earthly lips are one
They find within the walls of their embrace
Life that will last when planets' lives are done.
Two lovers standing silent, face to face,
When strength divine worships diviner grace
Wield powers supremer than of star or sun.