Deep in thy lap I lay my head, Deep in my soul thy words resound; Thy lips where mine so lately bled Gleam like a wound. Now, in the sad reluctant light The passionate silence of thy mood, I feel thy robe's perfume, and night And solitude. Till in the solitude I feel The breaking heart, the dazzled brain Pulse with a longing tense as steel And more than pain. More than all pain and all delight, All laughter and convulsive tears, More than all sleep in all the night Of endless years, Thy robe's perfume is deep and warm, The dusk is deep and sad and low: I cannot save thee from love's harm Nor let thee go. I have nor strength nor will to save Thy life from my desire or me. I hold thee, Mistress still and Slave Eternally! |