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<\/h2>\n<\/h2>\nby Sara Teasdale<\/p>\n
The twilight’s inner flame grows blue and deep,
\nAnd in my Lesbos, over leagues of sea,
\nThe temples glimmer moonwise in the trees.
\nTwilight has veiled the little flower face
\nHere on my heart, but still the night is kind
\nAnd leaves her warm sweet weight against my breast.
\nAm I that Sappho who would run at dusk
\nAlong the surges creeping up the shore
\nWhen tides came in to ease the hungry beach,
\nAnd running, running, till the night was black,
\nWould fall forespent upon the chilly sand
\nAnd quiver with the winds from off the sea?
\nAh, quietly the shingle waits the tides
\nWhose waves are stinging kisses, but to me
\nLove brought no peace, nor darkness any rest.
\nI crept and touched the foam with fevered hands
\nAnd cried to Love, from whom the sea is sweet,
\nFrom whom the sea is bitterer than death.
\nAh, Aphrodite, if I sing no more
\nTo thee, God’s daughter, powerful as God,
\nIt is that thou hast made my life too sweet
\nTo hold the added sweetness of a song.
\nThere is a quiet at the heart of love,
\nAnd I have pierced the pain and come to peace.
\nI hold my peace, my Cleis, on my heart;
\nAnd softer than a little wild bird’s wing
\nAre kisses that she pours upon my mouth.
\nAh, never any more when spring like fire
\nWill flicker in the newly opened leaves,
\nShall I steal forth to seek for solitude
\nBeyond the lure of light Alcaeus’ lyre,
\nBeyond the sob that stilled Erinna’s voice.
\nAh, never with a throat that aches with song,
\nBeneath the white uncaring sky of spring,
\nShall I go forth to hide awhile from Love
\nThe quiver and the crying of my heart.
\nStill I remember how I strove to flee
\nThe love-note of the birds, and bowed my head
\nTo hurry faster, but upon the ground
\nI saw two winged shadows side by side,
\nAnd all the world’s spring passion stifled me.
\nAh, Love, there is no fleeing from thy might,
\nNo lonely place where thou hast never trod,
\nNo desert thou hast left uncarpeted
\nWith flowers that spring beneath thy perfect feet.
\nIn many guises didst thou come to me;
\nI saw thee by the maidens while they danced,
\nPhaon allured me with a look of thine,
\nIn Anactoria I knew thy grace,
\nI looked at Cercolas and saw thine eyes;
\nBut never wholly, soul and body mine,
\nDidst thou bid any love me as I loved.
\nNow I have found the peace that fled from me;
\nClose, close, against my heart I hold my world.
\nAh, Love that made my life a lyric cry,
\nAh, Love that tuned my lips to lyres of thine,
\nI taught the world thy music, now alone
\nI sing for one who falls asleep to hear.<\/p>\n
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