Oracles

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,