Close By

So near at hand (our eyes o'erlooked its nearness     In search of distant things)     A dear dream lay - perchance to grow in dearness     Had we but felt its wings     Astir. The air our very breathing fanned     It was so near at hand.     Once, many days ago, we almost held it,     The love we so desired;     But our shut eyes saw not, and fate dispelled it     Before our pulses fired     To flame, and errant fortune bade us stand     Hand almost touching hand.     I sometimes think had we two been discerning,     The by-path hid away     From others' eyes had then revealed its turning     To us, nor led astray     Our footsteps, guiding us into love's land     That lay so near at hand.     So near at hand, dear heart, could we have known it!     Throughout those dreamy hours,     Had either loved, or loving had we shown it,     Response had sure been ours;     We did not know that heart could heart command,     And love so near at hand!     What then availed the red wine's subtle glisten?     We passed it blindly by,     And now what profit that we wait and listen     Each for the other's heart beat? Ah! the cry     Of love o'erlooked still lingers, you and I     Sought heaven afar, we did not understand     'Twas - once so near at hand.