young; The flower folds its leaves about an opening bud; And in my neighbour’s house there is the cry of a child. I close my window that I need not hear. p. 42SEPARATION p. 42 HE One decade and a half since first we came With hearts aflame Into Love’s Paradise, as man and mate; And now we separate. Soon, all too soon, Waned the white splendour of our honeymoon. We saw it fading; but we did not know How bleak the path would be when once its glow Was wholly gone. And yet we two were forced to follow on— Leagues, leagues apart while ever side by side. Darker and darker grew the loveless weather, Darker the way, Until we could not stay Longer together. Now that all anger from our hearts has died, p. 43And love has flown far from its ruined nest, To find sweet shelter in another breast, Let us talk calmly of our past mistakes, And of our faults; if only for the sakes Of those with whom our futures will be cast. You shall speak first. p. 43 SHE A woman would speak last— Tell me my first grave error as a wife. HE Inertia. My young veins were rife With manhood’s ardent blood; and love was fire Within me. But you met my strong desire With lips like frozen rose leaves—chaste, so chaste That all your splendid beauty seemed but waste Of love’s materials. Then of that beauty Which had so pleased my sight You seemed to take no care; you felt no duty To keep yourself an object of delight For lover’s-eyes; and appetite And indolence soon wrought Their devastating changes. You were not The woman I had sworn to love and cherish. If love is starved, what can love do but perish? p. 44Now will you speak of my first fatal sin And all that followed, even as I have done? p. 44 SHE I must begin With the young quarter of our honeymoon. You are but one Of countless men who take the priceless boon Of woman’s love and kill it at the start, Not wantonly but blindly. Woman’s passion Is such a subtle thing—woof of her heart, Web of her spirit; and the body’s part Is to play ever but the lesser rôle To her white soul. Seized in brute fashion, It fades like down on wings of butterflies; Then dies. So my love died. Next, on base Mammon’s cross you nailed my pride, Making me ask for what was mine by right:
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