University of Virginia Library

Search this document 

expand sectionI. 
collapse sectionII. 
  
expand section 
expand section 
expand section 
collapse section 
 I. 
 II. 
 III. 
 IV. 
 V. 
 VI. 
 VII. 
 VIII. 
 IX. 
 X. 
 XI. 
 XII. 
 XIII. 
 XIV. 
 XV. 
 XVI. 
 XVII. 
 XVIII. 
 XIX. 
 XX. 
 XXI. 
 XXII. 
 XXIII. 
 XXIV. 
 XXV. 
 XXVI. 
 XXVII. 
 XXVIII. 
 XXIX. 
 XXX. 
 XXXI. 
 XXXII. 
 XXXIII. 
 XXXIV. 
 XXXV. 
 XXXVI. 
expand section 
expand section 
expand sectionIII. 
expand sectionIV. 
expand sectionV. 
expand sectionVI. 
expand sectionVII. 
expand sectionVIII. 
expand sectionIX. 
expand sectionX. 
expand sectionXI. 


119

III.
WHITE

White, when I saw you last, with eyes as clear
As ocean in the summer over sand,
Your face was,—when I pressed your cold sweet hand.
I did not know it was the last time, dear,
And so another sonnet-pressure here
I send,—the last wave washed upon the strand,—
Last cry from darkness towards the sunlit land,—
Last petal of the last rose of the year.
The last long wailing of a harpsichord,—
Last struggle, last spent sobbing, of a flute,—
Last broken iridescence of a lute,—
Last gleam and snapping of a singer's sword;
Last surge of passion round about you poured;
Last sunset-lustre on love's golden fruit.
1871.