To
Apollo
BY KETAKI
You burned like a Lamp into the depths of Night;
Till now, her eyes were sad and weary;
Her heart, till now, was day and dreary,
But, You smiled on Her–and all was Light!
The Dark Lady! Ah! Where is She?
She–She is gone like the Tears of Morn
That are lost in Thy Light ere yet they are born:
And–from her pain me thought her free.
What have you done to her haunting frame?
Did you puzzle her with your Light?
Did you frighten her with your Sight?
Or–was She burnt in Your Flame?
She came to us lovingly, kiss’d us to sleep:
She charm’d our world with her mystic eyes:
She lull’d us to sleep with her magic Voice,
And all the while her Eyes did weep.
Her purple mantle–it draped her form–
’Twas a Veil, a Screen: it hid her pain.
For You, for You, she long’d in vain:
Your smiles she loves; Your looks so warm.
Her soul was ever lost in thine.
She pined for a flaming look from you,
A look of love from her Lord, so true.
Her Love!–’Twas strange! Love steeped in Pain.
Her Love for you was deep as the Sea,
Deeper, deeper, far, than Death.
She looked on you.–Her quiet breath
Wafted to you like the wind on the lea!