Page:Poems Greenwell.djvu/58

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THE KISS.
"She died young!"

"I think not so; her infelicity
Seemed to have years too many."
Webster.

   I come to thee from one
Thou knowest of,—I bear to thee her kiss:
"No bitter words;" she said, "when I am gone
   Give thou but only this."

   The mouth was wellnigh cold
I took it from, yet hath it power to bless;
The lips that sent it never moved of old
   Except in tenderness;

   And ere they ceased to stir
They trembled, as if then they strove to frame
A word,—the only one 'twixt heaven and her,—
   Methought it was thy name.

   They wore unto the last
A calm, sad, twilight smile, from patience won;
Her face had light on it that was not cast
   From joy's long-sunken sun.