LOVERS’ LEAP

In Greece I found the place, though earth

Has many such; and wandering there alone,

One Autumn evening when the moon rose late,

I heard this song, though none was there to sing.

A ghostly rune, yet left the alarmèd dark

Quivering with life, tear-warm and murmuring:

No morrow is if hearts say no;

Life is gone when love doth go.

No tear to weep, no prayer to pray;

Endeth time with lovers’ day.

This trailing night will pale and flee,

And dawn again creep o'er the sea;

Light's tender hands will earth attire,

Aloft will swim the golden fire,

And every bird begin his lay,

But I shall know there is no day.

And Spring shall come. With teary cheek,

But heart of Bacchus, she will seek

With healing eyes each winter wound,

Till little minstrels of the ground,

The choral buds, in wonder wake

To croon the dewy songs they take

From brooks that haunt the woodman's glade

And lose a dream in every shade.

And ere the Spring has vanished,

Summer will make her rosy bed

And new loves take with every wind

Till earth be laden with her kind

And foster-bosomed Autumn come

To nurse the darlings of her womb.

But naught of season, change, or sun,

Recks the heart whose love is done.

Oh, ne'er again will beauty wear

For my sad eyes a robe more fair,

And ne'er again will music make

A sweeter song for my poor sake.

No tear to weep, no prayer to pray!

Endeth time with lover's day.

No morrow is if hearts say no;

Life is gone when love doth go.

Death, O Death, why dost thou flee

From one whose wish is but for thee?

Here is thy pillow, on my breast.

No dove but would its spicèd nest

Forego to couch in this sweet bed

That here I open for thy head.

Thou wilt not hear? Thou wilt not come?

Then must I seek thee in thy home.

Once more lift up this stone-dead heart,

And leap to find thee where thou art!