Never any more, <br /> While I live, <br />Need I hope to see his face <br /> As before. <br />Once his love grown chill, <br /> Mine may strive: <br />Bitterly we re-embrace, <br /> Single still. <br /> <br /> II. <br /> <br />Was it something said, <br /> Something done, <br />Vexed him? was it touch of hand, <br /> Turn of head? <br />Strange! that very way <br /> Love begun: <br />I as little understand <br /> Love's decay. <br /> <br /> III. <br /> <br />When I sewed or drew, <br /> I recall <br />How he looked as if I sung, <br /> ---Sweetly too. <br />If I spoke a word, <br /> First of all <br />Up his cheek the colour sprang, <br /> Then he heard. <br /> <br /> IV. <br /> <br />Sitting by my side, <br /> At my feet, <br />So he breathed but air I breathed, <br /> Satisfied! <br />I, too, at love's brim <br /> Touched the sweet: <br />I would die if death bequeathed <br /> Sweet to him. <br /> <br /> V. <br /> <br />``Speak, I love thee best!'' <br /> He exclaimed: <br />``Let thy love my own foretell!'' <br /> I confessed: <br />``Clasp my heart on thine <br /> ``Now unblamed, <br />``Since upon thy soul as well <br /> ``Hangeth mine!'' <br /> <br /> VI. <br /> <br />Was it wrong to own, <br /> Being truth? <br />Why should all the giving prove <br /> His alone? <br />I had wealth and ease, <br /> Beauty, youth: <br />Since my lover gave me love, <br /> I gave these. <br /> <br /> VII. <br /> <br />That was all I meant, <br /> ---To be just, <br />And the passion I had raised, <br /> To content. <br />Since he chose to change <br /> Gold for dust, <br />If I gave him what he praised <br /> Was it strange? <br /> <br /> VIII. <br /> <br />Would he loved me yet, <br /> On and on, <br />While I found some way undreamed <br /> ---Paid my debt! <br />Gave more life and more, <br /> Till, all gone, <br />He should smile ``She never seemed <br /> ``Mine before. <br /> <br /> IX. <br /> <br />``What, she felt the while, <br /> ``Must I think? <br />``Love's so different with us men!'' <br />He should smile: <br /> ``Dying for my sake--- <br />``White and pink! <br /> ``Can't we touch these bubbles then <br />``But they break?'' <br /> <br /> X. <br /> <br />Dear, the pang is brief, <br /> Do thy part, <br />Have thy pleasure! How perplexed <br /> Grows belief! <br />Well, this cold clay clod <br /> Was man's heart: <br />Crumble it, and what comes next? <br /> Is it God?<br /><br />Robert Browning<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/in-a-year/
