How many words in the asking! How easily I can grieve you!-- My "no" in a "yes" was a-masking, Nor thought, dear, to deceive you.-- A kiss?--the humming-bird happiness here In my heart consents.... But what are words, When the thought of two souls in speech accords? Affirmative, negative--what are they, dear? I wished to say "yes," but somehow said "no." The woman within me thought you would know Thought that your heart would hear.
So many hopes in a wooing!-- Therein you could not deceive me; Some things are sweeter for the pursuing-- I knew what you meant, believe me.-- Bunched bells of the blush pomegranate, to fix At your throat ... six drops of fire they are.... Will you look where the moon and its following star Rise silvery over yon meadow ricks? While I hold--while I lean your head back, so-- For I know it is "yes" though you whisper "no," And my kisses, sweet, are six.
Look!--where the fiery Glow-worm in briery Banks of the moon-mellowed bowers Sparkles--how hazily Pinioned and arily Delicate, warily, Drowsily, lazily, Flutter the moths to the flowers.
White as the dreamiest Bud of the creamiest Rose in the garden that dozes, See how they cling to them! Held in the heart of their Hearts like a part of their Perfume they swing to them Wings that are soft as the roses.
Dim as the forming of Dew in the warming of Moonlight, they light on the petals; All is revealed to them; All--from the sunniest Tips to the honiest Heart, whence they yield to them Spice through the darkness that settles.
So to our tremulous Souls come the emulous Spirits of love; through whose power All that is best in us, All that is beautiful, All that is dutiful, Is made confessed in us, Even as the scent of a flower.
What makes you beautiful? Answer, now, answer!-- Is it that dutiful Souls are all beautiful? Is't that romance or Beauty of spirit, Which souls of merit Of heaven inherit?-- Have you no answer?
What makes you lovable? Answer, dear, answer!-- Is it not provable That man is lovable Just because chance or Nature makes woman Love him?--Her human Part's to illumine.-- Have you no answer?
_Then, regarding him seriously, she continues:_
Could I recall every joy that befell me There in the past with its anguish and bliss, Here in my heart it has whispered to tell me, Those were no joys like this.