Cambridge Poets 1900–1913

Rupert Brooke . KINDLINESS . W HEN love has changed to kindliness V Oh , love, our hungry lips , that press So tight that Time's an old god 's dream Nodding in heaven , and whisper stuff Seven million years were not enough To think on after , make it seem Less than the breath of children playing , A blasphemy scarce worth the saying , A sorry jest , “ When love has grown To kindliness — to kindliness !” . . . And yet — the best that either 's known Will change , and wither , and be less , At last , than comfort , or its own Remembrance . And when some caress Tendered in habit ( once a flame All heaven sang out to ) wakes the shame Unworded , in the steady eyes We 'll have that day , what shall we do ? Being so noble , kill the two Who ' ve reached their second - best ? Being wise Break cleanly off, and get away , Follow down other windier skies New lures , alone ? Or shall we stay , Since this is all we ' ve known , content In the lean twilight of such day , And not remember , not lament ? That time when all is over , and Hand never finches , brushing hand ; 24