And all my being was enwrapped,
A bridegroom’s in a bride's.
Deep in the hollow of the place
A starry bed I saw,
Gemmed with strange stones in many a space
Of godlike rune and law.
Such fancies as the fiery face
Of living Art might draw.
But rising up I lift my head
Beyond the ripples clean :
My arms with spray dew-diamonded
Stretched love-wise to my queen
That danced upon the light, and shed
Her own sweet light between.
But never a mortal joy might know,
Hold never a mortal lover!
Whose limbs like moonshine glint and glow,
Throb, palpitate, and hover :—
Pale sunrise woven with the snow
Athwart a larchen cover!
So danced she in the rainbow mist,
A fairy frail and chaste,
By moon caressed, by sunlight kissed,
A guerdon vain and waste ;
And the misery of her thankless tryst
Stole on me as she paced.
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