Helen of Troy and Other Poems Part 4

"I Love You"

When April bends above me And finds me fast asleep, Dust need not keep the secret A live heart died to keep.

When April tells the thrushes, The meadow-larks will know, And pipe the three words lightly To all the winds that blow.

Above his roof the swallows, In notes like far-blown rain, Will tell the little sparrow Beside his window-pane.

O sparrow, little sparrow, When I am fast asleep, Then tell my love the secret That I have died to keep.

But Not to Me

The April night is still and sweet With flowers on every tree; Peace comes to them on quiet feet, But not to me.

My peace is hidden in his breast Where I shall never be, Love comes to-night to all the rest, But not to me.

Hidden Love

I hid the love within my heart, And lit the laughter in my eyes, That when we meet he may not know My love that never dies.

But sometimes when he dreams at night Of fragrant forests green and dim, It may be that my love crept out And brought the dream to him.

And sometimes when his heart is sick And suddenly grows well again, It may be that my love was there To free his life of pain.

Snow Song

Fairy snow, fairy snow, Blowing, blowing everywhere, Would that I Too, could fly Lightly, lightly through the air.

Like a wee, crystal star I should drift, I should blow Near, more near, To my dear Where he comes through the snow.

I should fly to my love Like a flake in the storm, I should die, I should die, On his lips that are warm.

Youth and the Pilgrim

Gray pilgrim, you have journeyed far, I pray you tell to me Is there a land where Love is not, By sh.o.r.e of any sea?

For I am weary of the G.o.d, And I would flee from him Tho' I must take a s.h.i.+p and go Beyond the ocean's rim.

"I know a port where Love is not, The s.h.i.+p is in your hand, Then plunge your sword within your breast And you will reach the land."

The Wanderer

I saw the sunset-colored sands, The Nile like flowing fire between, Where Rameses stares forth serene, And Ammon's heavy temple stands.

I saw the rocks where long ago, Above the sea that cries and breaks, Bright Perseus with Medusa's snakes Set free the maiden white like snow.

And many skies have covered me, And many winds have blown me forth, And I have loved the green bright north, And I have loved the cold sweet sea.

But what to me are north and south, And what the lure of many lands, Since you have leaned to catch my hands And lay a kiss upon my mouth.

I Would Live in Your Love

I would live in your love as the sea-gra.s.ses live in the sea, Borne up by each wave as it pa.s.ses, drawn down by each wave that recedes; I would empty my soul of the dreams that have gathered in me, I would beat with your heart as it beats, I would follow your soul as it leads.

May

The wind is tossing the lilacs, The new leaves laugh in the sun, And the petals fall on the orchard wall, But for me the spring is done.

Beneath the apple blossoms I go a wintry way, For love that smiled in April Is false to me in May.

Rispetto

Was that his step that sounded on the stair?