Meeting in Winter.
Winter in the world it is,1
Round about the unhoped kiss2
Whose dream I long have sorrowed o’er ;3
Round about the longing sore,4
That the touch of thee shall turn5
Into joy too deep to burn.6
Round thine eyes and round thy mouth,7
Passeth no murmur of the south,8
When my lips a little while9
Leave thy quivering tender smile,10
As we twain, hand holding hand,11
Once again together stand.12
Sweet is that, as all is sweet ;13
For the white drift shalt thou meet14
Kind and cold-cheeked and mine own,15
Wrapped about with deep-furred gown16
In the broad-wheeled chariot :17
Then the north shall spare us not ;18
The wide-reaching waste of snow19
Wilder, lonelier yet shall grow20
As the reddened sun falls down.21
But the warders of the town,22
When they flash the torches out23
O’er the snow amid their doubt,24
And their eyes at last behold25
Thy red-litten hair of gold ;26
Shall they open, or in fear27
Cry, “ Alas ! What cometh here ?28
Whence hath come this Heavenly One29
To tell of all the world undone ? ”30
They shall open, and we shall see31
The long street litten scantily32
By the long stream of light before33
The guest-hall’s half-open door ;34
And our horses’ bells shall cease35
As we reach the place of peace ;36
Thou shalt tremble, as at last37
The worn threshold is o’er-past,38
And the fire-light blindeth thee :39
Trembling shalt thou cling to me40
As the sleepy merchants stare41
At thy cold hands slim and fair,42
Thy soft eyes and happy lips43
Worth all lading of their ships.44
O my love, how sweet and sweet45
That first kissing of thy feet,46
When the fire is sunk alow47
And the hall made empty now48
Groweth solemn, dim and vast !49
O my love, the night shall last50
Longer than men tell thereof51
Laden with our lonely love !52