THROUGH DEATH TO LOVE

Like labour-laden moonclouds faint to flee

From winds that sweep the winter-bitten wold,—

Like multiform circumfluence manifold

Of night's flood-tide,— like terrors that agree

Of hoarse-tongued fire and inarticulate sea,—

Even such, within some glass dimmed by our breath,

Our hearts discern wild images of Death,

Shadows and shoals that edge eternity.

Howbeit athwart Death's imminent shade doth soar

One Power, than flow of stream or flight of dove

Sweeter to glide around, to brood above.

Tell me, my heart;— what angel-greeted door

Or threshold of wing-winnowed threshing-floor

Hath guest fire-fledged as thine, whose lord is Love?