Last night when I kissed you, <br />My soul caught alight; <br />And oh! how I missed you <br />The rest of the night - <br />Till Love in derision <br />Smote sleep with his wings, <br />And gave me in vision <br />Impossible things. <br /> <br />A night that was clouded, <br />Long windows asleep; <br />Dark avenues crowded <br />With secrets to keep. <br />A terrace, a lover, <br />A foot on the stair; <br />The waiting was over, <br />The lady was there. <br /> <br />What a flight, what a night! <br />The hoofs splashed and pounded. <br />Dark fainted in light <br />And the first bird-notes sounded. <br />You slept on my shoulder, <br />Shy night hid your face; <br />But dawn, bolder, colder, <br />Beheld our embrace. <br /> <br />Your lips of vermilion, <br />Your ravishing shape, <br />The flogging postillion, <br />The village agape, <br />The rattle and thunder <br />Of postchaise a-speed . . . <br />My woman, my wonder, <br />My ultimate need! <br /> <br />We two matched for mating <br />Came, handclasped, at last, <br />Where the blacksmith was waiting <br />To fetter us fast . . . <br />At the touch of the fetter <br />The dream snapped and fell - <br />And I woke to your letter <br />That bade me farewell.<br /><br />Edith Nesbit<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/gretna-green/
