them well Until those nails are pearly white Now rosier than a laurel bell; Then come to me at candle-light. 

   Lay your cold hands across my brows, And I shall sleep, and I shall dream Of silver-pointed willow boughs Dipping their fingers in a stream. 

    VELVET SHOES 

   Let us walk in the white snow In a soundless space; With footsteps quiet and slow, At a tranquil pace, Under veils of white lace. 

   I shall go shod in silk, And you in wool, White as a white cow's milk,   More beautiful Than the breast of a gull. 

   We shall walk through the still town In a windless peace; We shall step upon white down, Upon silver fleece, Upon softer than these. 

   We shall walk in velvet shoes:   Wherever we go Silence will fall like dews On white silence below. We shall walk in the snow. 

    VALENTINE 

   Too high, too high to pluck My heart shall swing. A fruit no bee shall suck, No wasp shall sting. 

   If on some night of cold It falls to ground In apple-leaves of gold I'll wrap it round. 

   And I shall seal it up With spice and salt, In a carven silver cup, In a deep vault. 

   Before my eyes are blind And my lips mute, I must eat core and rind Of that same fruit. 

   Before my heart is dust At the end of all, Eat it I must, I must Were it bitter gall. 

   But I shall keep it sweet By some strange art; Wild honey I shall eat When I eat my heart. 

   O honey cool and chaste As clover's breath! Sweet Heaven I shall taste Before my death. 

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