Error And Loss.

Upon an eve I sat me down and wept,     Because the world to me seemed nowise good;     Still autumn was it, & the meadows slept,     The misty hills dreamed, and the silent wood     Seemed listening to the sorrow of my mood:     I knew not if the earth with me did grieve,     Or if it mocked my grief that bitter eve.     Then 'twixt my tears a maiden did I see,     Who drew anigh me on the leaf-strewn grass,     Then stood and gazed upon me pitifully     With grief-worn eyes, until my woe did pass     From me to her, and tearless now I was,     And she mid tears was asking me of one     She long had sought unaided and alone.     I knew not of him, and she turned away     Into the dark wood, and my own great pain     Still held me there, till dark had slain the day,     And perished at the grey dawn's hand again;     Then from the wood a voice cried: "Ah, in vain,     In vain I seek thee, O thou bitter-sweet!     In what lone land are set thy longed-for feet?"     Then I looked up, and lo, a man there came     From midst the trees, and stood regarding me     Until my tears were dried for very shame;     Then he cried out: "O mourner, where is she     Whom I have sought o'er every land and sea?     I love her and she loveth me, and still     We meet no more than green hill meeteth hill."     With that he passed on sadly, and I knew     That these had met and missed in the dark night,     Blinded by blindness of the world untrue,     That hideth love and maketh wrong of right.     Then midst my pity for their lost delight,     Yet more with barren longing I grew weak,     Yet more I mourned that I had none to seek.