Stage Love

When the game began between them for a jest,     He played king and she played queen to match the best;     Laughter soft as tears, and tears that turned to laughter,     These were things she sought for years and sorrowed after.     Pleasure with dry lips, and pain that walks by night;     All the sting and all the stain of long delight;     These were things she knew not of, that knew not of her,     When she played at half a love with half a lover.     Time was chorus, gave them cues to laugh or cry;     They would kill, befool, amuse him, let him die;     Set him webs to weave to-day and break to-morrow,     Till he died for good in play, and rose in sorrow.     What the years mean; how time dies and is not slain;     How love grows and laughs and cries and wanes again;     These were things she came to know, and take their measure,     When the play was played out so for one mans pleasure.