To-night I hunger so, <br />Beloved one, to know <br />If you recall and crave again the dream <br />That haunted our canoe, <br />And wove its witchcraft through <br />Our hearts as 'neath the northern night we sailed the northern stream. <br /> <br />Ah! dear, if only we <br />As yesternight could be <br />Afloat within that light and lonely shell, <br />To drift in silence till <br />Heart-hushed, and lulled and still <br />The moonlight through the melting air flung forth its fatal spell. <br /> <br />The dusky summer night, <br />The path of gold and white <br />The moon had cast across the river's breast, <br />The shores in shadows clad, <br />The far-away, half-sad <br />Sweet singing of the whip-poor-will, all soothed our souls to rest. <br /> <br />You trusted I could feel <br />My arm as strong as steel, <br />So still your upturned face, so calm your breath, <br />While circling eddies curled, <br />While laughing rapids whirled <br />From boulder unto boulder, till they dashed themselves to death. <br /> <br />Your splendid eyes aflame <br />Put heaven's stars to shame, <br />Your god-like head so near my lap was laid-- <br />My hand is burning where <br />It touched your wind-blown hair, <br />As sweeping to the rapids verge, I changed my paddle blade. <br /> <br />The boat obeyed my hand, <br />Till wearied with its grand <br />Wild anger, all the river lay aswoon, <br />And as my paddle dipped, <br />Thro' pools of pearl it slipped <br />And swept beneath a shore of shade, beneath a velvet moon. <br /> <br />To-night, again dream you <br />Our spirit-winged canoe <br />Is listening to the rapids purling past? <br />Where, in delirium reeled <br />Our maddened hearts that kneeled <br />To idolize the perfect world, to taste of love at last.<br /><br />Emily Pauline Johnson<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/wave-won/
