 | Uncollected Poems of James Russell Lowell |  |
THE TWO
Soon each the other knew,
But love grew up more slowly;
Firmly and fair it grew,
Watered with Heaven's dew,
That plant so pure and holy.
But love grew up more slowly;
Firmly and fair it grew,
Watered with Heaven's dew,
That plant so pure and holy.
Thereon burst forth a flower,
To fuller beauty moulded
By sunshine, shade and shower,
In which all seeds of power
And mystery were folded.
To fuller beauty moulded
By sunshine, shade and shower,
In which all seeds of power
And mystery were folded.
They saw the flower rare,
And loved it for its beauty;
They watcht it with sweet care
Till, ere they were aware,
It grew to be a duty.
And loved it for its beauty;
They watcht it with sweet care
Till, ere they were aware,
It grew to be a duty.
Then started they in fear
And gazed upon each other:
They said, “Why lose our cheer?
We only will be dear
As sister and her brother.”
And gazed upon each other:
They said, “Why lose our cheer?
We only will be dear
As sister and her brother.”
So dwelt they late and soon
In love's unclouded weather:
They loved the self-same tune,
And underneath the moon
'T was bliss to be together.
In love's unclouded weather:
They loved the self-same tune,
And underneath the moon
'T was bliss to be together.
From all the world so wide
Each soul the other singled;
Something within did guide
Their life-streams side by side
Until at length they mingled.
Each soul the other singled;
Something within did guide
Their life-streams side by side
Until at length they mingled.
9
And now they cannot part,
But must flow on forever,—
Two streams that rose apart,
Joined in the mighty heart
Of one calm-flowing river.
But must flow on forever,—
Two streams that rose apart,
Joined in the mighty heart
Of one calm-flowing river.
| Uncollected Poems of James Russell Lowell | |