Love at the lips was touch <br />As sweet as I could bear; <br />And once that seemed too much; <br />I lived on air <br /> <br />That crossed me from sweet things, <br />The flow of--was it musk <br />From hidden grapevine springs <br />Downhill at dusk? <br /> <br />I had the swirl and ache <br />From sprays of honeysuckle <br />That when they're gathered shake <br />Dew on the knuckle. <br /> <br />I craved strong sweets, but those <br />Seemed strong when I was young; <br />The petal of the rose <br />It was that stung. <br /> <br />Now no joy but lacks salt, <br />That is not dashed with pain <br />And weariness and fault; <br />I crave the stain <br /> <br />Of tears, the aftermark <br />Of almost too much love, <br />The sweet of bitter bark <br />And burning clove. <br /> <br />When stiff and sore and scarred <br />I take away my hand <br />From leaning on it hard <br />In grass and sand, <br /> <br />The hurt is not enough: <br />I long for weight and strength <br />To feel the earth as rough <br />To all my length.<br /><br />Robert Lee Frost<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/to-earthward-2/
