INTERLUDE

What love is; how I love; how builders’ clay

By love is lit into a golden spending;

How love calls beautiful ghosts back to the day;

How life because of love shall have no ending —

These with the dawn I have begun to sing,

These with the million-budded noon that's rising

Shall be a theme, with love's consent, to bring

My song to some imperishable devising.

And may the petals of this garland fall

On every quarrel, and in fragrance bless

Old friendship; and a little comfort all

The weary loves that walk the wilderness,

While still my song I consecrate alone

To her who taking it shall take her own.