Sketches from Life in Town and Country And some Verses: By Edward Carpenter: With Portrait |
 |
CUPID BELIES HIS OWN FAREWELL |
 | Sketches from Life in Town and Country |  |
251
CUPID BELIES HIS OWN FAREWELL
Hard by the mountain springs I heard a dove
Wail long, wail loud, her passionate complaint,
And looking saw the tender God of love
Trip past with arrows sheathed and bow unbent.
Wail long, wail loud, her passionate complaint,
And looking saw the tender God of love
Trip past with arrows sheathed and bow unbent.
Quickly I caught and drew him to my side.
He spake no word, but looked into my face
With childish eyes of wonder opened wide,
And innocent half-hesitating grace.
He spake no word, but looked into my face
With childish eyes of wonder opened wide,
And innocent half-hesitating grace.
I thought him bashful or myself to blame
For rougher years, and knelt like one denied,
And kissed his brow and called him by his name;
But he no syllable to all replied.
For rougher years, and knelt like one denied,
And kissed his brow and called him by his name;
But he no syllable to all replied.
Then did I fling in petulant despair
A flowery handful at him with: “Away!”—
“Farewell,” he said—and with a smile so fair,
It rankles in my heart unto this day!
A flowery handful at him with: “Away!”—
“Farewell,” he said—and with a smile so fair,
It rankles in my heart unto this day!
| Sketches from Life in Town and Country | |