IN THREE DAYS.

1.

So, I shall see her in three days

And just one night, but nights are short,
Then two long hours, and that is morn.
See how I come, unchanged, unworn
Feel, where my life broke off from thine,
How fresh the splinters keep and fine,—
Only a touch and we combine!

2.

Too long, this time of year, the days! at least the nights are short.

But nights

As night shows where her one moon is,
A hand's-breadth of pure light and bliss,
So, life's night gives my lady birth
And my eyes hold her! what is worth
The rest of heaven, the rest of earth?

O loaded curls, release your store
Of warmth and scent as once before

The tingling hair did, lights and darks
Out-breaking into fairy sparks
When under curl and curl I pried
After the warmth and scent inside
Thro' lights and darks how manifold
The dark inspired, the light controlled !
As early Art embrowned the gold.

What great fear

should one say, "Three days

That change the world, might change as well
Your fortune; and if joy delays,

Be happy that no worse befell."
What small fear-if another says,

"Three days and one short night beside
May throw no shadow on your ways;
But years must teem with change untried,
With chance not easily defied,

With an end somewhere undescried."

No fear! or if a fear be born

This minute, it dies out in scorn.

Fear? I shall see her in three days
And one night, now the nights are short,
Then just two hours, and that is morn.

3.

When I sewed or drew,

I recall

How he looked as if I sang,

- Sweetly too.

If I spoke a word,

First of all

Up his cheek the color sprang,

Then he heard.

4.

Sitting by my side,

At my feet,

So he breathed the air I breathed,

Satisfied!

I, too, at love's brim

Touched the sweet:

I would die if death bequeathed

Sweet to him.

5.

"Speak, I love thee best!"

He exclaimed.

"Let thy love my own foretell,—”

I confessed:

"Clasp my heart on thine

Now unblamed,

Since upon thy soul as well

Hangeth mine! "