THE FIFTIETH DAY 
 
Suffolk :  “ If I depart from thee I cannot live. 
Margaret : 
“ let me hear from thee, 
For whereso’er thou art in this world’s globe 
I have an Iris that shall find thee out.” 
II. King Henry VI. 
 
At noon she sailed for home, a weeping bride 
Widowed before the honeymoon was done. 
Always before the rising of the sun 
I swore to come in spirit to her side 
And lie like love ; and she at eventide 
Swore to seek me and gather one by one 
The threads of labyrinthine love new spun, 
Cretan for monstrous shadows serpent-eyed. 
 
So the last kiss passed like a poison-pain, 
Knowing we might not ever kiss again. 
Mad tears fell fast :  “ Next year ! ” in cruel distress 
We sobbed, and stretched our arms out, and despaired, 
And—parted.  Out the brute-side of truth flared ; 
“ Thank God I’ve finished with that foolishness ! ” 
 
92