With radiant plumage and still, lustrous eye.

And as I gazed I saw what I had deemed

A shadow near thy hand, a dusky wing,

A bird like last year's leaves, so dull a thing

Beside its fellow; as the sunshine gleamed

[Pg 6]

Each breast showed letters bright as crystalled rain,

The fair bird bore "Delight," the other "Pain."

Then came thy voice: "O Love, wilt have my gift?"

I stretched my glad hands eagerly to grasp

The heaven-blown bird, gold-hued, and longed to clasp

It close and know it mine. Ere I might lift

The shining thing and hold it to my breast

Again I heard thy voice with vague unrest.

"These are twin birds and may not parted be."

Full in thine eyes I gazed, and read therein

The paradox of life, of love, of sin,

As on a night of cloud and mystery

One darting flash makes bright the hidden ways,

And feet tread knowingly though thick the haze.

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