The Tryst

Just when all hope had perished in my soul,     And balked desire made havoc with my mind,     My cruel Ladye suddenly grew kind,     And sent these gracious words upon a scroll:     "When knowing Night her dusky scarf has tied     Across the bold, intrusive eyes of day,     Come as a glad, triumphant lover may,     No longer fearing that he be denied."     I read her letter for the hundredth time,     And for the hundredth time my gladdened sight     Blurred with the rapture of my vast delight,     And swooned upon the page. I caught the chime     Of far off bells, and at each silver note     My heart on tiptoe pressed its eager ear     Against my breast; it was such joy to hear     The tolling of the hour of which she wrote.     The curious day still lingered in the skies     And watched me as I hastened to the tryst.     And back, beyond great clouds of amethyst,     I saw the Night's soft, reassuring eyes.     "Oh, Night," I cried, "dear Love's considerate friend,     Haste from the far, dim valleys of the west,     Rock the sad striving earth to quiet rest,     And bid the day's insistent vigil end."     Down brooding streets, and past the harbored ships     The Night's young handmaid, Twilight, walked with me.     A spent moon leaned inertly o'er the sea;     A few, pale, phantom stars were in eclipse.     There was the house, My Ladye's sea-girt bower     All draped in gloom, save for one taper's glow,     Which lit the path, where willing feet would go.     There was the house, and this the promised hour.     The tide was out; and from the sea's salt path     Rose amorous odors, filtering through the night     And stirring all the senses with delight;     Sweet perfumes left since Aphrodite's bath.     Back in the wooded copse, a whip-poor-will     Gave love's impassioned and impatient call.     On pebbled sands I heard the waves kiss fall,     And fall again, so hushed the hour and still.     Light was my knock upon the door, so light,     And yet the sound seemed rude. My pulses beat     So loud they drowned the coming of her feet     The arrow of her taper pierced the gloom -     The portal closed behind me. She was there -     Love on her lips and yielding in her eyes     And but the sea to hear our vows and sighs.     She took my hand and led me up the stair.