COLLECTED POEMS
AS A WORLD WOULD HAVE IT
Alcestis
Shall I never make him look at me again?
I look at him, I look my life at him,
I tell him all I know the way to tell,
But there he stays the same.
Shall I never make him speak one word to me?
Shall I never make him say enough to show
My heart if he be glad? Be glad? ... ah! God,
Why did they bring me back?
I wonder, if I go to him again,
If I take him by those two cold hands again,
Shall I get one look of him at last, or feel
One sign or anything?
Or will he still sit there in the same way,
Without an answer for me from his lips,
Or from his eyes, or even with a touch
Of his hand on my hand ? . . .
"Will you look down this once look down at me ?
Speak once and if you never speak again,
Tell me enough tell me enough to make
Me know that you are glad !
"You are my King, and once my King would speak :
You were Admetus once, you loved me once:
Life was a dream of heaven for us once
And has the dream gone by?
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