Thou wert so fain to seek to, fain to crave

If she would hear thee and save

And give thee comfort of thy great green grave?

Because I have known thee always who thou art,

Thou knowest, have known thee to thy heart's own heart,

Nor ever have given light ear to storied song

That did thy sweet name sweet unwitting wrong,

Nor ever have called thee nor would call for shame,

Thou knowest, but inly by thine only name,

Sappho—because I have known thee and loved, hast thou

None other answer now?

As brother and sister were we, child and bird,

Since thy first Lesbian word

[Pg 319]

Flamed on me, and I knew not whence I knew

This was the song that struck my whole soul through,

Pierced my keen spirit of sense with edge more keen,

Even when I knew not,—even ere sooth was seen,—

When thou wast but the tawny sweet winged thing

Whose cry was but of spring.

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