 | Love-Songs |  |
49
LOVE AND HONOUR.
I stood before a grave,—and honour said,
“Heap loudly on the corpse that lies therein
Dust and departure—that the soul may win
The eternal halo of a passion dead,
And round about her lips for roses red
Twine lilies pale as her own life hath been;
And seize thine harp, sad singer, and begin
Some low-voiced tune to tears and yearning wed.”
“Heap loudly on the corpse that lies therein
Dust and departure—that the soul may win
The eternal halo of a passion dead,
And round about her lips for roses red
Twine lilies pale as her own life hath been;
And seize thine harp, sad singer, and begin
Some low-voiced tune to tears and yearning wed.”
But love said, “Rather let the corpse awake!
And let sweet lips for roses be the charm
To bring towards an unhesitating arm
The tender limbs and soft desires that shake
And flutter as a lily for thy sake—
Even as a lily loud in her alarm.”
And let sweet lips for roses be the charm
To bring towards an unhesitating arm
The tender limbs and soft desires that shake
And flutter as a lily for thy sake—
Even as a lily loud in her alarm.”
| Love-Songs | |