Beyond the need of weeping, <br />Beyond the reach of hands, <br />May she be quietly sleeping, <br />In what dim nebulous lands? <br />Ah, she who understands! <br /> <br />The long, long winter weather, <br />These many years and days, <br />Since she, and Death, together, <br />Left me the wearier ways: <br />And now, these tardy bays! <br /> <br />The crown and victor's token: <br />How are they worth to-day? <br />The one word left unspoken, <br />It were late now to say: <br />But cast the palm away! <br /> <br />For once, ah once, to meet her, <br />Drop laurel from tired hands: <br />Her cypress were the sweeter, <br />In her oblivious lands: <br />Haply she understands! <br /> <br />Yet, crossed that weary river, <br />In some ulterior land, <br />Or anywhere, or ever, <br />Will she stretch out a hand? <br />And will she understand?<br /><br />Ernest Christopher Dowson<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/vanitas-2/
