One moment alone in the garden, <br /> Under the August skies; <br />The moon had gone but the stars shone on, - <br /> Shone like your beautiful eyes. <br />Away from the glitter and gaslight, <br /> Alone in the garden there, <br />While the mirth of the throng, in laugh and song, <br /> Floated out on the air. <br /> <br />You looked down through the starlight, <br /> And I looked up at you; <br />And a feeling came that I could not name, - <br /> Something starnge and new. <br />Friends of a few weeks only, - <br /> Why should it give me pain <br />To know you would go in the morrow, <br /> And would not come again? <br /> <br />Formal friends of a season. <br /> What matter that we must part? <br />But under the skies, with a swift surprise, <br /> Each read the other's heart. <br />We did not speak, but your breath on my cheek <br /> Was like a breeze of the south: <br />And your dark hair brushed my forehead <br /> And your kiss fell on my mouth. <br /> <br />Some one was searching for me, - <br /> Some one to say good-night; <br />And we went in from the garden, <br /> Out of the sweet starlight, <br />Back to the glitter and music, <br /> And we said 'Good-bye' in the hall, <br />When a dozen heard and echoed the word, <br /> And then - well, that was all. <br /> <br />The river that rolls between us <br /> Can never be crossed, I know, <br />For the waters are deep and the shores are steep, <br /> And a maelstrom whirls below; <br />But I think we shall always remember, <br /> Though we both may strive to forget, <br />How you looked in my eyes, 'neath the August skies, <br /> After the moon had set; - <br /> <br />How you kissed my lips in the garden, <br /> And we stood in a trance of bliss, <br />And our hearts seemed speaking together <br /> In that one thrilling kiss.<br /><br />Ella Wheeler Wilcox<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/in-the-garden/
