HISTORY

THE listless beauty of the hour

When snow fell on the apple trees

And the wood-ash gathered in the fire

And we faced our first miseries.

Then the sweeping sunshine of noon

When the mountains like chariot cars

Were ranked to blue battle — and you and I

Counted our scars.

And then in a strange, grey hour

We lay mouth to mouth, with your face

Under mine like a star on the lake,

And I covered the earth, and all space.

The silent, drifting hours

Of morn after morn

And night drifting up to the night

Yet no pathway worn.

Your life, and mine, my love

Passing on and on, the hate

Fusing closer and closer with love

Till at length they mate.