Clouds Without Water

IV We knew enough to wake to choral rapture All answering Nature: I will swear the sun Came out; you saw the moulting trees recapture Their plumage, and the green destroy the dun. Nothing could jar; the British workman took A kindly interest in our kind caresses; The loafing nursemaid and the musing cook Agreed with us entirely. Love impresses Its seal upon the world; is skilled to wake The sympathy of everything that lives. Kindliness flows, not venom, from the snake; The trodden worm dies duly — but forgives. The cabman asked four shillings for the job, And almost boggled at my glad ten bob! ° — 54— Oh! it was rapture and madness once again To turn our tears to kisses brimming over The mouths that never were too wide and fain For lover to hold intercourse with lover. Ah! we were owls of dusk to doubt the light, Bats to mistrust the Wolf's tail’s holy warning: ’’ Sorrow endureth maybe for a night, But joy most surely cometh in the morning ”. Joy, ay! what joy poured straight from the high treasure, The inexhaustible treasure of delight The gods have poured us, pouring overmeasure Because we love with all our life and might. Believe me, it is better than ali prayers To show the gods our love surpasses theirs !