I26 
ANIMA LUNAE 
 
Close to his forehead :  at the tears she shed 
He knew that he was dead ! 
Thus he feared not, nor wondered, as the stream 
Grew darker, as a dream 
Fades to the utter deep 
Of dreamless sleep. 
The stream grew darker, and the willows cover 
(As lover from a lover 
Even for love’s sake all the wealth of love) 
The whole light of the skies :  there came to him 
Sense of some being dim 
Bent over him, one colour and one form 
With the dark leaves ; but warm 
And capable of some diviner air. 
Her limbs were bare, her face supremely fair, 
Her soul one shapely splendour, 
Her voice indeed as tender 
As very silence :  so he would not speak, 
But let his being fade :  that all the past 
Grew shadowy and weak, 
And lost its life at last, 
Being mere dream to this that was indeed 
Life :  and some utter need 
Of this one’s love grew up in him :  he knew 
The spirit of that dew 
In his own soul ; and this indeed was love. 
The faint girl bent above 
With fixed eyes close upon him ; oh !  her face 
Burned in the rapturous grace 
Feeding on his ; and subtly, without touch,