Love's Quest

Love walks with weary feet the upward way,
Love without joy and led by suffering.
Love's unkissed lips have now no song to sing;
Love's eyes are blind and cannot see the day;
Love walks in utter darkness, and I say:
"O Love, 'tis summer," or "Behold the spring,"
Or, " Love, 't is autumn, leaves are withering,"
And, " Now it is the winter bleak and gray,"

And still Love heedeth not. " O Love," I cry,
"Wilt thou not rest? — the path is over steep:"
Love answers not, but passeth all things by;
Nor will he stay for those who laugh or weep.
I follow Love, who follows Grief; but, lo.
Where the way ends, not Love himself can know.