I see thine image through my tears to-night, <br />And yet to-day I saw thee smiling. How <br />Refer the cause ?--Beloved, is it thou <br />Or I, who makes me sad ? The acolyte <br />Amid the chanted joy and thankful rite <br />May so fall flat, with pale insensate brow, <br />On the altar-stair. I hear thy voice and vow, <br />Perplexed, uncertain, since thou art out of sight, <br />As he, in his swooning ears, the choir's Amen. <br />Beloved, dost thou love ? or did I see all <br />The glory as I dreamed, and fainted when <br />Too vehement light dilated my ideal, <br />For my soul's eyes ? Will that light come again, <br />As now these tears come--falling hot and real ?<br /><br />Elizabeth Barrett Browning<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/sonnet-xxx-3/
