They came, noisy and shrill, well-meaning; they Spoke to us first of wealth and then of love, The love of others, negligently shrewd And empty in their chatter. Then they spoke, Wise and judicious, and we answered them, Judicious likewise, flattering their mood. But our eyes found each other, and we fell Suddenly silent, caught in treachery, Remembering that proud world wherein we dwelt erstwhile.
BECAUSE I knew you fickle as the flame And sweet as music irresponsible, Because I knew no walls could tame Your vagrancy within their certain shell,
I raised for you a palace on a hill Where all the spirits generous and free Might drift at their unchidden will, Or tarry to salute you carelessly.
A windy palace most fantastical, Whose halls stood full of light and resonance, Where slender fountains lyrical Spilled water like a stream of bright romance,
And, high above the many spires, I hung A company of bells; with wanton hands The happy wind shook out and swung Their dimpling music over level lands.
“I’ll take my yellow neckerchief, My coral beads I’ll wear; Green ivy-chains shall loop my dress, And ivy-chains shall loop my hair.
“What pretty gyves, such pretty gyves! See how with tendril twists They twine a halter round my throat And make soft captives of my wrists.
“I’ll leave my shoes beside the stream, And creep on noiseless feet Between the willows all among The iris and the meadow-sweet.”
She slips from willow-tree to tree, Holding one finger pressed Against her lips; her other hand Lies lightly moulded on her breast,
And peeping, laughing all the day, She rambles up and down, But I, unseen, have seen her go With ivy slung about her gown.
COME, shall we go, my comrade, from this den Where falsehood reigns and we have dallied long? Exchange the curious vanities of men For roads of freedom and for ships of song?
We came as strangers, came to learn and look, To hear their music, drink the wine they gave. Now let us hence again; the happy brook Shall quench our thirst, our music be the wave.
Come! they are feasting, let us steal away. Beyond the doors the night awaits us, sweet. To-morrow we shall see the break of day, And goat-herds’ pipes shall lead our roaming feet.
YOU laughed, and all the fountains of the East Leapt up to Heaven with their diamond rain To hang in light, and when your laughter ceased Dropped shivered arrows to the ground again.