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181

CROSS-PURPOSES

I would have given you love,” said I,
“Flowers of the earth and stars of the sky:
Thoughts like stars, and love like a flower,
Blossoms fit for a queen's own dower,
Gifts that a king might long to see”—
“Buy me this diamond brooch,” said she.
“Dreaming still of the earth?” said I.
“You—why I thought you came from the sky!
Thought you a fairy, deemed you a queen;
Earth for your footstep seemed too mean.
You to ask for a brooch from me—”
“Buy me that necklace then,” said she.
Star-dreams flash through the poet's head:
Woman looks at the shops instead.
The lover dreams in his lady's eyes;
But the lady does not dream—she buys.
“Brighter than stars are your eyes,” thinks he—
“Eighteen and threepence, dear,” says she.