Modern Love: XIII

‘I play for Seasons; not Eternities!’

Says Nature, laughing on her way. ‘So must

All those whose stake is nothing more than dust!’

And lo, she wins, and of her harmonies

She is full sure! Upon her dying rose,

She drops a look of fondness, and goes by,

Scarce any retrospection in her eye;

For she the laws of growth most deeply knows,

Whose hands bear, here, a seed-bag—there, an urn.

Pledged she herself to aught, ’t would mark her end!

This lesson of our only visible friend,

Can we not teach our foolish hearts to learn?

Yes! yes!—but, oh, our human rose is fair

Surpassingly! Lose calmly Love’s great bliss,

When she renewed for ever of a kiss

Whirls life within the shower of loosened hair!