The lightning; keen and cruel he would flash

Into this sky of love, death in his hand.

The path was strewn with little crimson flowers

Scarlet festooned the trees, or was it blood

That danced within his eyes? His thoughts were vague:

Death, mercy, love, but strongest was desire

Merely to see and satisfy his fear.

Sudden he saw them, and he hid his eyes

Before the sight, then strained to see again

Taka, her arms piled high with blossoms, stood,

An amber goddess of spring with flying hair

Beneath a flower-bent branch, whose leaves had caught

One of her sun-kissed curls. Malua watched her.

34

Laughing, she would have torn away the tress

And with the effort all the starry flowers

Drifted like snow across their bended heads,

But with a low cry he withheld her hand,

And standing where she needs must turn to see

His two arms o'er her slender shoulder laid,

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