How I Loved

How I loved that one of the dark gaze

More sombre than velvet and fire.

So were you, my trepidation of touch

To the tear's deep draught when I dreamt.

We are mad to seek in the Low Countries

For that which comes once. Watch when it comes!

May you watch for the star that the day enslaves?

Remember thereafter! in the pent skies

How suddenly untrammeled it flushed into light-

Shy blaze of its pain bearing forth such rays

In the far gardens the evening prepares-

Of whose vows that our tryst pledged in the cup

The birds, going forth, sang as they burned

Steeped in those dyes, even as we,

Terrifying under high ceilings of snow. ...