The Season's Associations

Soft white wings in a whirling wind,
Shivering trees, and sad gray skies,
Bitter kisses and long, long sighs,
Eyes by passionate tears made blind,
A fire of hope that waxed and waned,
Words that soothed, and words that pained,
And hot, strange light in the aching eyes, —

Waters flashing beneath the sun.
Songs of birds, and the scent of May,
Grief for a loved one far away,
Pain of a hope that is all but done,
A thought of meeting, bitter as sweet,
Lips that by night in dreams repeat
The one sad prayer they have left to pray, —

Breathless heavens and blinding noons.
Friends that loiter 'neath garden trees
Two together, a sense of peace,
Long still nights and the great sweet moons.
Love victorious, crowned at last,
Bliss exalted and grief downcast.
And a calm as deep as of summer seas —

Dead leaves drifting down garden ways,
Fear in place of a fair delight,
Wind and rain through the day and night.
Hands outstretched, and a half-turned face.
Words from lips that will soon be still,
Hopes that cower and thoughts that kill,
And death that triumphs in love's despite.