University of Virginia Library


59

SONG II

[Love, before I loved you]

Love, before I loved you,
And was loved again,
What had life to live for,
Or what balm had pain?
Half the world's hid wonder
Dark to you and me,
Locked from our heart's reading
Till love lent the key!
In the soul's lone garden
Flowers were few to cull,
And hard toil was hateful,
And dark days were dull:
Now—old hopes behind us,
From old cares estranged,
Is the change in us, Love,
Or are all things changed?
The new earth beneath us!
The new heaven o'erhead!
Why should winter boughs be
Greenly garlanded,
Winter-skies, why stretch them
Blue without a stain,
But because I love you,
And am loved again?