Reproach

Had I but known yesterday,     Helen, you could discharge the ache     Out of the cloud;     Had I known yesterday you could take     The turgid electric ache away,     Drink it up with your proud     White body, as lovely white lightning     Is drunk from an agonised sky by the earth,     I might have hated you, Helen.     But since my limbs gushed full of fire,     Since from out of my blood and bone     Poured a heavy flame     To you, earth of my atmosphere, stone     Of my steel, lovely white flint of desire,     You have no name.     Earth of my swaying atmosphere,     Substance of my inconstant breath,     I cannot but cleave to you.     Since you have drunken up the drear     Painful electric storm, and death     Is washed from the blue     Of my eyes, I see you beautiful.     You are strong and passive and beautiful,     I come like winds that uncertain hover;     But you     Are the earth I hover over.