Parting Lovers

Sienna I Love thee, love thee, Giulio! Some call me cold, and some demure, And if thou hast ever guessed that so I love thee … well;—the proof was poor, And no one could be sure. Before thy song (with shifted rhymes To suit my name) did I undo The persian? If it moved sometimes, Thou hast not seen a hand push through A flower or two. My mother listening to my sleep Heard nothing but a sigh at night,— The short sigh rippling on the deep,— When hearts run out of breath and sigh Of men, to God’s clear light. When others named thee,… thought thy brows Were straight, thy smile was tender,… “Here He comes between the vineyard-rows!”— I said not “Ay,”—nor waited, Dear, To feel thee step too near. I left such things to bolder girls, Olivia or Clotilda. Nay, When that Clotilda through her curls Held both thine eyes in hers one day, I marvelled, let me say. I could not try the woman’s trick: Between us straightway fell the blush Which kept me separate, blind, and sick. A wind came with thee in a flush, As blow through Horeb’s bush. But now that Italy invokes Her young men to go forth and chase The foe or perish,—nothing chokes My voice, or drives me from the place: I look thee in the face. I love thee! it is understood, Confest: I do not shrink or start: No blushes: all my body’s blood Has gone to greaten this poor heart, That, loving, we may part. Our Italy invokes the youth To die if need be. Still there ’s room, Though earth is strained with dead, in truth. Since twice the lilies were in bloom They had not grudged a tomb. And many a plighted maid and wife And mother, who can say since then “My country,” cannot say through life “My son,” “my spouse,” “my flower of men,” And not weep dumb again. Heroic males the country bears, But daughters give up more than sons. Flags wave, drums beat, and unawares You flash your souls out with the guns, And take your heaven at once! But we,—we empty heart and home Of life’s life, love! we bear to think You ’re gone,… to feel you may not come,… To hear the door-latch stir and clink Yet no more you,… nor sink. Dear God! when Italy is one And perfected from bound to bound,… Suppose (for my share) earth ’s undone By one grave in ’t! as one small wound May kill a man, ’t is found! What then? If love’s delight must end, At least we ’ll clear its truth from flaws. I love thee, love thee, sweetest friend! Now take my sweetest without pause, To help the nation’s cause. And thus of noble Italy We ’ll both be worthy. Let her show The future how we made her free, Not sparing life, nor Giulio, Nor this … this heart-break. Go!