 | Poems and Romances |  |
167
BLIND LOVE.
Love, when he lived in heaven,
Saw many lovely things
On earth that seemed worth kissing,
And so Love asked for wings.
Saw many lovely things
On earth that seemed worth kissing,
And so Love asked for wings.
He kissed the dew of morning,
And said that it was sweet;
But when the dew was melted,
He found that it was fleet.
And said that it was sweet;
But when the dew was melted,
He found that it was fleet.
And then he kissed the roses
That opened to the noon,
He kissed the brooks at evening
That sparkled in the moon.
That opened to the noon,
He kissed the brooks at evening
That sparkled in the moon.
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So all the spring and summer
He flew about and fed
On sunshine and on kisses,
For kisses are Love's bread.
He flew about and fed
On sunshine and on kisses,
For kisses are Love's bread.
And even in the autumn
He loved the red leaves' glow,
And even in the winter
He loved the virgin snow.
He loved the red leaves' glow,
And even in the winter
He loved the virgin snow.
But when the roses faded,
And when the leaves fell down,
And when the white snow melted,
Then Love began to frown.
And when the leaves fell down,
And when the white snow melted,
Then Love began to frown.
And as he flew no whither,
He saw a woman go
In singing and in sighing
Among the melting snow.
He saw a woman go
In singing and in sighing
Among the melting snow.
Her face was fair as ever,
And Love would feed thereon;
He asked her for her kisses,
But she was woebegone.
And Love would feed thereon;
He asked her for her kisses,
But she was woebegone.
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So she withheld her kisses,
And said her heart was cold,
And sighed, “You will forsake me,
For I too shall grow old.”
And said her heart was cold,
And sighed, “You will forsake me,
For I too shall grow old.”
When she lay down in sorrow
Love stole a kiss at last,
But when Love would fly further,
The woman held him fast.
Love stole a kiss at last,
But when Love would fly further,
The woman held him fast.
Yet when Love knelt and pleaded,
And said he was in pain,
Because the land was barren,
She let him go again.
And said he was in pain,
Because the land was barren,
She let him go again.
Because the land was barren,
He thought that she was fair;
Because the land was barren,
He fluttered back to her.
He thought that she was fair;
Because the land was barren,
He fluttered back to her.
And she had called her sisters
To clip the wings of Love,
And they had built a prison
With painted stars above.
To clip the wings of Love,
And they had built a prison
With painted stars above.
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Love flew into the prison
And sat upon the floor,
And while the youngest kissed him
The eldest shut the door.
And sat upon the floor,
And while the youngest kissed him
The eldest shut the door.
Love flew about among them,
For each he thought was fair;
And while he flew, the prison
Had melted into air.
For each he thought was fair;
And while he flew, the prison
Had melted into air.
They only held him closer,
Lest he should fly away;
And sought to pluck his feathers
Who was content to stay.
Lest he should fly away;
And sought to pluck his feathers
Who was content to stay.
They, when they could not hold him,
Waxed angry with their bliss;
And covered up their faces,
Lest Love should see and kiss.
Waxed angry with their bliss;
And covered up their faces,
Lest Love should see and kiss.
So Love grew faint with fasting,
And spake to them and said,
“My wings are all my glory,
But take my eyes instead.
And spake to them and said,
“My wings are all my glory,
But take my eyes instead.
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“I need my wings to carry
Your heavy souls with me,
But while I feel your beauty
I have no need to see.”
Your heavy souls with me,
But while I feel your beauty
I have no need to see.”
In heaven Love has a mother
Who never asked for wings,
Because she was not careful
To look at many things.
Who never asked for wings,
Because she was not careful
To look at many things.
She, looking out of heaven,
Said, “Child, you are not wise,”
But Love was very hungry,
So they put out his eyes.
Said, “Child, you are not wise,”
But Love was very hungry,
So they put out his eyes.
They thought, though Time will mar us
With sorrow and with pain,
Blind Love will never know it,
And flutter back again.
With sorrow and with pain,
Blind Love will never know it,
And flutter back again.
Yet they had little profit,
Except to be accurst,
For Love grew weary of them,
But they grew weary first.
Except to be accurst,
For Love grew weary of them,
But they grew weary first.
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Nor did his wings of glory
Advantage eyeless Love,
For none could journey with him,
Though all were fain thereof.
Advantage eyeless Love,
For none could journey with him,
Though all were fain thereof.
He flutters now no whither
Among unlovely things,
To seek his wingless mother
On soiled and broken wings.
Among unlovely things,
To seek his wingless mother
On soiled and broken wings.
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