How Does Love Speak?

How does Love speak?     In the faint flush upon the tell-tale cheek,     And in the pallor that succeeds it; by     The quivering lid of an averted eye -     The smile that proves the parent of a sigh:         Thus doth Love speak.         How does Love speak?     By the uneven heart-throbs, and the freak     Of bounding pulses that stand still and ache     While new emotions, like strange barges, make     Along vein-channels their disturbing course,     Still as the dawn, and with the dawn's swift force:         Thus doth Love speak.         How does Love speak?     In the avoidance of that which we seek     The sudden silence and reserve when near;     The eye that glistens with an unshed tear;     The joy that seems the counterpart of fear,     As the alarmed heart leads in the breast,     And knows, and names, and greets its godlike guest:         Thus doth Love speak.         How does Love speak?     In the proud spirit suddenly grown meek,     The haughty heart grown humble; in the tender     And unnamed light that floods the world with splendour;     In the resemblance which the fond eyes trace     In all fair things to one beloved face;     In the shy touch of hands that thrill and tremble;     In looks and lips that can no more dissemble:         Thus doth Love speak.         How does Love speak?     In wild words that uttered seem so weak     They shrink ashamed to silence; in the fire     Glance strikes with glance, swift flashing high and higher,     Like lightnings that precede the mighty storm     In the deep, soulful stillness; in the warm,     Impassioned tide that sweeps thro' throbbing veins,     Between the shores of keen delights and pains;     In the embrace where madness melts in bliss,     And in the convulsive rapture of a kiss:         Thus doth Love speak.