He gray sea and the long black land..
And the yellow half-moon large and low
And the startled little waves that leap
In fiery ringlets from their sleep..

As I gain the cove with pushing prow,
And quench its speed I' the slushy sand.
Then a mile of warm sea-scented beach
Three fields to cross till a farm appears..

A tap at the pane, the quick sharp scratch
And blue spurt of a lighted match,
And a voice less loud, through its joys and fears,
Than the two hearts beating each to each!..

THE LOST MISTRESS

LL'S over, then.. does truth sound bitter
As one at first believes?
Hark, 'tis the sparrows' good-night twitter
About your cottage eaves!

And the leaf-buds on the vine are woolly,
I noticed that, today..
One day more bursts them open fully
You know the red turns gray.

To-morrow we meet the same then, dearest?
May I take your hand in mine?
Mere friends are we..well, friends the merest
Keep much that I resign..

For each glance of the eye so bright and black.
Though I keep with heart's endeavour..
Your voice, when you wish the snowdrops back,
Though it stay in my soul for ever!..

Yet I will but say what mere friends say,
Or only a thought stronger,
I will hold your hand but as long as all may,
Or so very little longer!

SONG FROM 'PARACELSUS'

EAP cassia, sandal-buds and stripes
Of labdanum, and aloe-balls,
Smear'd with dull nard an Indian wipes
From out her hair.. such balsam falls..

Down sea-side mountain pedestals,
From tree-tops where tired winds are fain,
Spent with the vast and howling main,
To treasure half their island-gain.

And strew faint sweetness from some old
Egyptian's fine worm-eaten shroud
Which breaks to dust when once unroll'd..
Or shredded perfume, like a cloud..

From closet long to quiet vow'd
With moth'd and dropping arras hung,
Mouldering her lute and books among,
As when a queen, long dead, was young.

IN A GONDOLA

He moth's kiss, first!
Kiss me as if you made me believe
You were not sure, this eve,
How my face, your flower, had pursed
Its petals up; so, here and there
You brush it, till I grow aware
Who wants me, and wide ope I burst.

The bee's kiss, now!
Kiss me as if you enter'd gay
My heart at some noonday,
A bud that dares not disallow
The claim, so all is render'd up,
And passively its shatter'd cup
Over your head to sleep I bow.

A WOMANS LAST WORD

Let's contend no more, Love,
Strive nor weep:
All be as before, Love,
Only sleep!..

What so wild as words are?
I and thou
In debate, as birds are,
Hawk on bough!..

See the creature stalking
While we speak!
Hush and hide
the talking,
Cheek on cheek!..

What so false
as truth is,
False to thee?
Where the serpent's tooth is..
Shun the tree..

Where the apple reddens
Never pry..
Lest we lose our Edens,
Eve and I..

Be a god and hold me
With a charm!
Be a man and fold me
With thine arm!..

Teach me, only teach, Love!
As I ought
I will speak thy speech, Love,
Think thy thought..

Meet, if thou require it,
Both demands,
Laying flesh and spirit
In thy hands..

That shall be tomorrow
Not tonight:
I will bury sorrow
Out of sight:

Must a little weep, Love,
(Foolish me!)
And so fall asleep, Love,
Loved by thee...

ROBERT BROWNING