Incompleteness.

Since first I met thee, Dear, and long before
    I knew myself beloved, save by the sense
    All women have, a shadowy confidence
Half-fear, that feels its bliss nor asks for more,
    I have learned new desires, known Love's distress
    Sounded the deepest depths of loneliness.

I was a child at heart, and lived alone,
    Dreaming my dreams, as children may, at whiles,
    Between their hours of play, and Earth's broad smiles
Allured my heart, and ocean's marvellous tone
    Woke no strange echoes, and the woods' complain
    Made chants sonorous, stirred no thoughts of pain.

And if, sometimes, dear Nature spoke to me
    In tones mysterious, I had learned so much
    Dwelling beside her daily, that her touch
Made me discerning. Though I might not see
    Her purpose nor her meaning, I had part
    In the proud throbbing of that mighty heart.

But now the earth has put a tiring-cloth
    About her face; even in the mountains' cheer
    There is a lack, and in the sea a fear,
The glad, rash sea, whose every mood, if wroth
    Or soothing mild, is dear to me as are
    Joy's new-born kisses on the lips of Care.

Since I have known thee, Dear, all life has grown
    An expectation. As the swelling grain
    Trembles to harvesting, and earth in pain
Travails till Spring is born, so felt alone
    Is the dumb reaching out of things unborn,
    The night's gray promise of the amber morn.

I long to taste my pleasures through thy lips,
    To sail with thee o'er foaming waves and feel
    Our spirits rise together with the reel
Of waters and the wavering land's eclipse;
    To see thy fair hair damp with salt sea-spray
    And in thine eyes the wildness of the way.

I long to share my woods with thee, to fly
    To some black-hearted forest where the trail
    Of mortals lingers not, - to hear the gale.
Sweep round us with a shuddering ecstasy,
    To feel, night's tumult passed, the cool soft hand
    Of the untroubled dawn move o'er the land.

To swim with thee far out into the bay,
    A trembling glitter on the waves, the shore
    Glowing with noontide fervor, nevermore
To fear the treacherous depths, though long the way.
    Sweet beyond words the sighs that breathe and blow,
    The moist salt kisses, and the glad warm glow.

And when the unrest, the vague desires that rush
    Over our lives and may not be denied, -
    Gone in the tasting, - lure us where the tide
Of men sweeps on, let us forget the hush
    Together, and in city madness drain
    Our cup of pleasure to its dregs of pain.

Ever I need thee. Incomplete and poor
    This life of mine. Yet never dream my soul
    Craves the old peace. Till I may have the whole
My joy is my abiding, and what more
    Of dreams and waking bliss the Fates allow
    Comes as a gift of Love's great overflow.