Rainbows (Custance)/Love and Death

by Olive Custance

For works with similar titles, see Love and Death.

Love and Death

 

I
THE VICTORY OF LOVE
Beloved I come to tell you it is Spring!
The old brown earth puts forth pale buds again;
Pierced by the silver arrows of the rain
Her wounded breasts bleed blossoms, violets cling
Across your grave . . . and how the wild birds sing!
Safe sheathed in sunshine is fate's sword of pain,
But Beauty beckons to my soul in vain,
Since you are dead what comfort can she bring?
Oh, Lover, I am striving to forget,
But your gay laughter haunts me, and I still
Hunger to hear your voice, that used to thrill
My heart with so much happiness, I fret
To hold your hands sometimes. Against my will,
In spite of my despair, I love you yet.

II
THE VICTORY OF DEATH
I am true to you, Beloved and only Love,
Even though others seem to snatch away
This wayward heart of mine, and every day
Finds me still seeking in each stranger's face
The face I loved, and if at times I trace
A chance resemblance, see your mouth or eyes
(Eyes coloured like the clearest April skies)
I love you again Beloved and only Love.

I am true to you, Beloved and only Love,
Though you have grown indifferent to me;
Since Death has led you where I cannot see
If you remember. Only guess at this,
That you sleep sound or find strange lips to kiss,
Oh, what thoughts shall be thought or what words said
To comfort those who sorrow for the dead?
I know you are changed, Beloved and only Love.