ABSENCE

Distance no grace can lend you, but for me

Distance yet magnifies your mystery.

With you, and soon content, I ask how should

In your two eyes be hid my heaven of good?

How should your own mere voice the strange words speak

That tease me with the sense of what's to seek

In all the world beside? How your brown hair,

That simply and neglectfully you wear,

Bind my wild thoughts in its abundant snare?

With you, I wonder how you're stranger than

Another woman to another man;

But parted — and you're as a ship unknown

That to poor castaways at dawn is shown

As strange as dawn, so strange they fear a trick

Of eyes long-vexed and hope with falseness sick.

Parted, and like the riddle of a dream,

Dark with rich promise, does your beauty seem.

I wonder at your patience, stirless peace,

Your subtle pride, mute pity's quick release.

Then are you strange to me and sweet as light

Or dew; as strange and dark as starless night.

Then let this restless parting be forgiven:

I go from you to find in you strange heaven.