Love

Beyond the Moon

by Vachel Lindsay 1879–1931

From General William Booth Enters into Heaven, and Other Poems (1913)

Love

My Sweetheart is the TRUTH BEYOND THE MOON,
And never have I been in love with Woman,
Always aspiring to be set in tune
With one who is invisible, inhuman.

O laughing girl, cold TRUTH has stepped between,
Spoiling the fevers of your virgin face:
Making your shining eyes but lead and clay,
Mocking your brilliant brain and lady's grace.

TRUTH haunted me the day I wooed and lost,
The day I wooed and won, or wooed in play:
Tho' you were Juliet or Rosalind,
Thus shall it be, forever and a day.

I doubt my vows, tho' sworn on my own blood,
Tho' I draw toward you weeping, soul to soul,
I have a lonely goal beyond the moon;
Ay, beyond Heaven and Hell, I have a goal!

✦ ✦ ✦

[Written to the Most Beautiful Woman in the World]

MLA

Lindsay, Vachel. “Beyond the Moon.” Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/lindsay/53/.

Chicago

Lindsay, Vachel. “Beyond the Moon.” Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/lindsay/53/.

Read this poem with the Codex →

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