Stronger and happier—he should never guess—

But I might sometimes touch his hair and know

The curls that clung around my fingers mine,

31

Bought by my pain as he, Malua, mine.

Just so the heaven belongs to each small star

Fixed by its gracious power eternally."

Thro' the late afternoon Uhila came.

The Earth was idle, on her knees her hand

Opened, relaxed and empty, and her eyes

Closed to the ardent sun. The village slept,

Waiting for evening's cool. Uhila came;

Over his shoulder like a silver shroud

He brought the gleaming fish. The purple shadows

Lay in soft pools about the palms; the leaves,

Listless as weary love, hung motionless,

And the hot green gave color to the air,

The world viewed through an emerald.

He came,

And to Akau's hut he brought his gift,

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