Page:Poems Barrett.djvu/295

   Come, O lover,
   Close and cover
These poor eyes, you called, I ween,
"Sweetest eyes, were ever seen."

When I heard you sing that burden
 In my vernal days and bowers,
Other praises disregarding,
 I but hearkened that of yours,—
   Only saying
   In heart-playing,
"Blessed eyes mine eyes have been,
If the sweetest, his have seen!"

But all changeth! At this vesper,
 Cold the sun shines down the door!
If you stood there, would you whisper
 "Love, I love you," as before,—
   Death pervading
   Now, and shading
Eyes you sang of, that yestreen,
As the sweetest, ever seen?

Yes! I think, were you beside them,
 Near the bed I die upon,—
Though their beauty you denied them,
 As you stood there, looking down,
   You would truly
   Call them duly,
For the love's sake found therein,—
"Sweetest eyes, were ever seen."

And if you looked down upon them,
 And if they looked up to you,
All the light which has forgone them
 Would be gathered back anew
   They would truly
   Be as duly