ou came to weep!

Out of the darkness, light; flame in the virgin dew!
Love came unto her own, and knew him not, who knew.
O understood! O known! O apprehended bliss!
O self unskilled in self! O taught of my one kiss!

_MATER INVIOLATA_

A maiden's love most nuptial is,
Innocent of his nuptial kiss;
And only after marriage call
Her lips, her passion, virginal!

For when she dreams, who is beloved,
The ancient miracle stands proved--
Virginity's much Motherhood!
For O, the unborn babes she keeps,
The unthought glory, lips unwooed!--
And O, the quickening of her sleeps
Whose dreams, dreamed over, do repeat
The echoes of Love's falling feet!
For his, her young inviolate mouth
Longs with the longing of long drouth:
And, lacking substance for such feast,
She clasps a dream-baby to breast,
And kisses, where her head has place,
The dream-lips of her love's dream-face!

On the decked bridal bed of Night
She knows the Moon shows maiden light--
The Sun's kiss urged in marriage-rite!
So, when her very night shall come,
Virginal, in her virgin home
When stars show unfamiliar faces,
Laughing for love in their high places--
When her essential lips are dumb
In a thronged panic of embraces--
Her maiden heart, her spousal breast,
Shall throb, surrendered and possessed,
Throb, passion-sweet and ungainsaid--
"Now at the last am I a Maid!"

_SONG-BURDEN_

I do confess I have no art
To tell the tale of my own heart.

Of lips and tears, of hearts and eyes,
I rhyme my rhymes and fear my fears;
And if of these I make you wise,
These pictured hearts, these lips, these tears,
There is nought to do; I have played my part.

And I, a captain of much guile,
Within your ranks dissensions preach
Till all are jealous, each of each--
Your eyes, lips, heart, a tear, a smile!

So, when you turn your eyes away
From mirrored eyes, and when you stay
Love-hearing with reluctant hand,
Straight then your heart-throbs will betray
That you have read, and understand!

And should your maiden heart uprise
Against fain ears and full-fain eyes,
Upon your lips, that cannot err,
I set my kiss-interpreter!

Or hold you steadfast as allies
Your heart, hand, lips, your smiles, your all,
Your faithful eyes are traitrous eyes--
Out-steals a tear to your downfall!

Your heart, your eyes, the lips of you
--Hesitant and full-fain your eyes!--
Make all my song; have I sung true?
Make all my song; are you song-wise?

_GIFTS_

My