Wave-Won

To-night I hunger so,     Beloved one, to know     If you recall and crave again the dream     That haunted our canoe,     And wove its witchcraft through     Our hearts as 'neath the northern night we sailed the northern stream.     Ah! dear, if only we     As yesternight could be     Afloat within that light and lonely shell,     To drift in silence till     Heart-hushed, and lulled and still     The moonlight through the melting air flung forth its fatal spell.     The dusky summer night,     The path of gold and white     The moon had cast across the river's breast,     The shores in shadows clad,     The far-away, half-sad     Sweet singing of the whip-poor-will, all soothed our souls to rest.     You trusted I could feel     My arm as strong as steel,     So still your upturned face, so calm your breath,     While circling eddies curled,     While laughing rapids whirled     From boulder unto boulder, till they dashed themselves to death.     Your splendid eyes aflame     Put heaven's stars to shame,     Your god-like head so near my lap was laid -     My hand is burning where     It touched your wind-blown hair,     As sweeping to the rapids verge, I changed my paddle blade.     The boat obeyed my hand,     Till wearied with its grand     Wild anger, all the river lay aswoon,     And as my paddle dipped,     Thro' pools of pearl it slipped     And swept beneath a shore of shade, beneath a velvet moon.     To-night, again dream you     Our spirit-winged canoe     Is listening to the rapids purling past?     Where, in delirium reeled     Our maddened hearts that kneeled     To idolize the perfect world, to taste of love at last.