Meeting In The Woods

Through ferns and moss the path wound to     A hollow where the touchmenots     Swung horns of honey filled with dew;     And where like foot-prints violets blue     And bluets made sweet sapphire blots,     'Twas there that she had passed he knew.     The grass, the very wilderness     On either side, breathed rapture of     Her passage: 'twas her hand or dress     That touched some tree a slight caress     That made the wood-birds sing above;     Her step that made the flowers up-press.     He hurried, till across his way,     Foam-footed, bounding through the wood,     A brook, like some wild girl at play,     Went laughing loud its roundelay;     And there upon its bank she stood,     A sunbeam clad in woodland gray.     And when she saw him, all her face     Grew to a wildrose by the stream;     And to his breast a moment's space     He gathered her; and all the place     Seemed conscious of some happy dream     Come true to add to Earth its grace.     Some joy, on which Heav'n was intent     For which God made the world the bliss,     The love, that raised her innocent     Pure face to his that, smiling, bent     And sealed confession with a kiss     Life needs no other testament.