Volume IV Part 4 (1/2)

QUESTION AND ANSWER.

I.

Love you seek for, presupposes Summer heat and sunny glow.

Tell me, do you find moss-roses Budding, blooming in the snow?

Snow might kill the rose-tree's root-- Shake it quickly from your foot, Lest it harm you as you go.

II.

From the ivy where it dapples A grey ruin, stone by stone, Do you look for grapes or apples, Or for sad green leaves alone?

Pluck the leaves off, two or three-- Keep them for morality When you shall be safe and gone.

INCLUSIONS.

I.

Oh, wilt thou have my hand, Dear, to lie along in thine?

As a little stone in a running stream, it seems to lie and pine.

Now drop the poor pale hand, Dear, unfit to plight with thine.

II.

Oh, wilt thou have my cheek, Dear, drawn closer to thine own?

My cheek is white, my cheek is worn, by many a tear run down.

Now leave a little s.p.a.ce, Dear, lest it should wet thine own.

III.

Oh, must thou have my soul, Dear, commingled with thy soul?-- Red grows the cheek, and warm the hand; the part is in the whole: Nor hands nor cheeks keep separate, when soul is joined to soul.

INSUFFICIENCY.

I.

There is no one beside thee and no one above thee, Thou standest alone as the nightingale sings!

And my words that would praise thee are impotent things, For none can express thee though all should approve thee.

I love thee so, Dear, that I only can love thee.

II.

Say, what can I do for thee? weary thee, grieve thee?