Absence

Distance no grace can lend you, but for me     Distance yet magnifies your mystery.     With you, and soon content, I ask how should     In your two eyes be hid my heaven of good?     How should your own mere voice the strange words speak     That tease me with the sense of what's to seek     In all the world beside? How your brown hair,     That simply and neglectfully you wear,     Bind my wild thoughts in its abundant snare?     With you, I wonder how you're stranger than     Another woman to another man;     But parted--and you're as a ship unknown     That to poor castaways at dawn is shown     As strange as dawn, so strange they fear a trick     Of eyes long-vexed and hope with falseness sick.     Parted, and like the riddle of a dream,     Dark with rich promise, does your beauty seem.     I wonder at your patience, stirless peace,     Your subtle pride, mute pity's quick release.     Then are you strange to me and sweet as light     Or dew; as strange and dark as starless night.     Then let this restless parting be forgiven:     I go from you to find in you strange heaven.