"I am part of the First Great Cause!

There is room for an earnest man.

I am here to strengthen the plan."

 Two Nights

(Suggested by the lives of Napoleon and Josephine.)

I.

One night was full of rapture and delight— Of reunited arms and swooning kisses, And all the unnamed and unnumbered blisses Which fond souls find in love of love at night.

Of reunited arms and swooning kisses,

And all the unnamed and unnumbered blisses

Heart beat with heart, and each clung into each With twining arms that did but loose their hold To cling still closer; and fond glances told These truths for which there is no uttered speech.

With twining arms that did but loose their hold

To cling still closer; and fond glances told

There was sweet laughter and endearing words, Made broken by the kiss that could not wait, And cooing sounds as of dear little birds That in spring-time love and woo and mate.

Made broken by the kiss that could not wait,

And cooing sounds as of dear little birds

And languid sighs that breathed of love's content And all too soon this night of rapture went.

II.

One night was full of anguish and of pain, Of nerveless arms and mockery of kisses; And those caresses where one sick heart misses The quick response the other cannot feign.

Of nerveless arms and mockery of kisses;

And those caresses where one sick heart misses

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