Solitary

My thoughts have been with you the whole night long;
I wonder did you know, my dear?
My heart went flying to you, in a song;
I wonder, sweetheart, did you hear?

Here, where I kissed your hands and lips and hair, —
Here, where I held you to my heart.
While passion thrilled and kindled all the air,
Till hands and lips and lives must part,

I have lain, weary, at Sleep's shadowy gate.
Which would not ope to let me in
Where happy dreams of you I knew must wait,
So that I might some rapture win.

I have been weary for your voice, your touch.
The desperate sweetness of your kiss, —
The joy which almost thrills me over-much,
O sweet, my sweet, so sweet it is.

I strove to think you leaned above me here,
Laid lips to mine, then found to say
The dearest words, — as dear as love is dear;
But, O Love, you were far away.

Only for me this drear, ghost-haunted room,
And noises in the street outside;
Only for me to go from gloom to gloom,
And at the end, dark Death for bride.