The Perpetual Wooing.

The dull world clamors at my feet     And asks my hand and helping sweet;     And wonders when the time shall be     I'll leave off dreaming dreams of thee.     It blames me coining soul and time     And sending minted bits of rhyme--     A-wooing of thee still.     Shall I make answer? This it is:     I camp beneath thy galaxies     Of starry thoughts and shining deeds;     And, seeing new ones, I must needs     Arouse my speech to tell thee, dear,     Though thou art nearer, I am near--     A-wooing of thee still.     I feel thy heart-beat next mine own;     Its music hath a richer tone.     I rediscover in thine eyes     A balmier, dewier paradise.     I'm sure thou art a rarer girl--     And so I seek thee, finest pearl,     A-wooing of thee still.     With blood of roses on thy lips--     Canst doubt my trembling?--something slips     Between thy loveliness and me--     So commonplace, so fond of thee.     Ah, sweet, a kiss is waiting where     That last one stopped thy lover's prayer--     A-wooing of thee still.     When new light falls upon thy face     My gladdened soul discerns some trace     Of God, or angel, never seen     In other days of shade and sheen.     Ne'er may such rapture die, or less     Than joy like this my heart confess--     A-wooing of thee still.     Go thou, O soul of beauty, go     Fleet-footed toward the heavens aglow.     Mayhap, in following, thou shalt see     Me worthier of thy love and thee.     Thou wouldst not have me satisfied     Until thou lov'st me--none beside--     A-wooing of thee still.     This was a song of years ago--     Of spring! Now drifting flowers of snow     Bloom on the window-sills as white     As gray-beard looking through love's light     And holding blue-veined hands the while.     He finds her last--the sweetest smile--     A-wooing of her still.