AFTER

By Victoria Sackville West

OH, heart! the beauty of your wind-swept hair

Blown from your temples as you swiftly came!

For all the pagan grace of you was there,

Remembered, ardent, after months the same.

The eager muscles of your throat were bare,

The candid passion lit you like a flame,

As, striving on against the countering air,

You reached me, failing, breathing out my name.