POEM: AT THE LAST

Where are you — you whose loving breath

Alone can stay my soul from death?

The world's so wide, I seek it through,

Yet — dare I dream to win to you?

Perhaps your dear desired feet

Pass me in this grey muddy street.

Your face, it may be, has its shrine

In that dull house that's next to mine.

But I believe, O Life, O Fate,

That when I call on Death and wait

One moment at the unclosing gate

I shall turn back for one last gaze

Along the trampled, sordid ways,

And in the sunset see at last,

Just as the barred gate holds me fast,

Your face, your face, too late.