CUERVO - Biblioteca Nacional de Colombia

ANY WIFE TO ANY HUSBAND 373
L
ANY WIFE TO ANY HUSBAND
1
My love, this is the bitterest, that thou
Who art all truth and who dost love me now
As thine eyes say, as thy voice breaks to say­
Should'st love so truly and could'st love me still
A whole long life through, had but love its will,
Would death that leads me from thee brook delay I
2
I have but to be by thee, and thy hand
Would never let mine go, thy hearL withstand
The beating of my heart to reach its place.
When should I look for thee and feel thee gone '!
When cry for the old comfort and find none?
Never, I know I Thy soul is in thy face.
3
Oh, I should fade-'tis willed so I might I save,
Gladly I would, whatever beauty gave
Joy to thy sense, for that was precious too.
It is not to be granted. But the soul
Whence the love comes, all ravage leaves that whole;
Vainly the flesh fades-soul makes all things new.
4
And 'twould not be because my eye grew dim
Thou could'st not find the love there, thanks to Him
Who never is dishonoured in the spark
He gave us from his fire of fires, and bade
Remember whence it sprang nor be afraid
While that burns on, though all the rest grow dark.
5
So, how thou would'st be perfect, white and clean
Outside as inside, soul and soul's demesne
Alike, this body given to show it by I
Oh, three-parts through the worst of life's abyss,
What plaudits from the next world after this,
Could'st thou repeat a stroke and gain the sky!
©Biblioteca Nacional de Colombia