The Vow Forsworn.

Unweariedly he watches for the sign,
    The sign I promised from the farthest goal,
My lover of a world no longer mine,
    My human lover with his human soul.

Unweariedly he waits from day to day,
    Nor knows, as I know now, that when we meet,
'Twill be as dewdrop on the hawthorn spray,--
    The ultimate of God at last complete.

He still remembers that my eyes were blue,
    Still dreams the autumn russet of my hair;
"In God's own time," he said, "I'll come to you;
    You will be waiting; I will find you there!"

But now I know that he must never hear
    The message that I promised to impart,
For should I breathe the secret in his ear
    His soul would hearken--but 'twould break his heart!