In That Dark Silent Hour

In that dark silent hour     When the wind wants power,     And in the black height     The sky wants light,     Stirless and black     In utter lack,     And not a sound     Escapes from that untroubled round:--     To wake then     In the dark, and ache then     Until the dark is gone--     Lonely, yet not alone;     Hearing another's breath     All the quiet beneath,     Knowing one sleeps near     That day held dear     And dreams held dear; but now     In this sharp moment--how     Share the moment's sweetness,     Forgo its completeness,     Nor be alone     Now the dark is grown     Spiritual and deep     More than in dreams and sleep?     O, it is pain, 'tis need     That so will plead     For a little loneliness.     If it be pain to miss     Loved touch, look and lip,     Companionship     Yet is verier pain     Then, then     In that dark silent hour     When the wind wants power,     And you, near or far, sleep,     And your released thoughts toward me creep     While I, imprisoned, awake,     Ache--ache     To be for one     Long, little moment with myself alone.