LINES

Love scatters oil

On Life's dark sea,

Sweetens its toil —

Our helmsman he.

Around him hover

Odorous clouds;

Under this cover

His arrows he shrouds.

The cloud was around me,

I knew not why

Such sweetness crowned me.

While Time shot by.

No pain was within,

But calm delight,

Like a world without sin,

Or a day without night.

The shafts of the god

Were tipped with down,

For they drew no blood,

And they knit no frown.

I knew of them not

Until Cupid laughed loud,

And saying “You're caught!”

Flew off in the cloud.

O then I awoke,

And I lived but to sigh,

Till a clear voice spoke,—

And my tears are dry.