One of twain, twin-born with flowers that waken, <br />Now hath passed from sense of sun and rain: <br />Wind from off the flower-crowned branch hath shaken <br /> One of twain. <br /> <br />One twin flower must pass, and one remain: <br />One, the word said soothly, shall be taken, <br />And another left: can death refrain? <br /> <br />Two years since was love's light song mistaken, <br />Blessing then both blossoms, half in vain? <br />Night outspeeding light hath overtaken <br /> One of twain. <br /> <br /> <br />Night and light? O thou of heart unwary, <br />Love, what knowest thou here at all aright, <br />Lured, abused, misled as men by fairy <br /> Night and light? <br /> <br />Haply, where thine eyes behold but night, <br />Soft as o'er her babe the smile of Mary <br />Light breaks flowerwise into new-born sight. <br /> <br />What though night of light to thee be chary? <br />What though stars of hope like flowers take flight? <br />Seest thou all things here, where all see vary <br /> Night and light?<br /><br />Algernon Charles Swinburne<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/one-of-twain/
