SO NEAR at hand (our eyes o'erlooked its nearness In search of distant things) A dear dream lay—perchance to grow in dearness Had we but felt its wings Astir. The air our very breathing fanned It was so near at hand. Once, many days ago, we almost held it, The love we so desired; But our shut eyes saw not, and fate dispelled it Before our pulses fired To flame, and errant fortune bade us stand Hand almost touching hand. I sometimes think had we two been discerning, The by-path hid away From others' eyes had then revealed its turning To us, nor led astray Our footsteps, guiding us into love's land That lay so near at hand. So near at hand, dear heart, could we have known it! Througnout those dreamy hours, Had either loved, or loving had we shown it, Response had sure been ours; We did not know that heart could heart command, And love so near at hand! What then availed the red wine's subtle glisten? We passed it blindly by, And now what profit that we wait and listen Each for the other's heart beat? Ah! the cry Of love o'erlooked still lingers, you and I Sought heaven afar, we did not understand 'Twas—once so near at hand. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THE SPARROW HARK IN THE RAIN (ALEXANDER STEPHENS HEARS NEWS) by EDGAR LEE MASTERS SIXTEEN MONTHS by CARL SANDBURG THE LITTLE BOY FOUND, FR. SONGS OF INNOCENCE by WILLIAM BLAKE APOLOGIA PRO POEMATE MEO by WILFRED OWEN CATHOLIC HYMN by EDGAR ALLAN POE BROOKLYN BRIDGE by CHARLES GEORGE DOUGLAS ROBERTS NO SECOND TROY by WILLIAM BUTLER YEATS |