Then I Would Love You

Were you to come,
With your clear gray eyes
As calmly placid as, in summer's heat,
At noon-tide lie the sultry skies;
With your dark brown hair
As smoothly quiet as the leaves
When stirs no cooling breath of air;
And, shorn of smile, your full, red lips
Prest firmly close as the chaliced bud
Before the nectar-quaffing bee ere sips,
I would not know you,
I would not love you.

But, should you come,
With your love-bright eyes
Dancing gaily as, on summer's eve,
The stars adown the western skies;
With your hair wind-caught
And circled round your shining face
In fashion which no hand ere wrought;
And your full, red lips poised saucily,
As the slender moon mid a hundred stars,
And held aloof in daring taunt to me,
Then I would know you,
Then I would love you.