Triptyk: Brooke

I.

II.

III.

Breathless, we flung us on the windy hill,

      Laughed in the sun, and kissed the lovely grass.

      You said, "Through glory and ecstasy we pass;

Wind, sun, and earth remain, the birds sing still,

When we are old, are old. . . ." "And when we die

      All's over that is ours; and life burns on

Through other lovers, other lips," said I,

-- "Heart of my heart, our heaven is now, is won!"

"We are Earth's best, that learnt her lesson here.

      Life is our cry. We have kept the faith!" we said;

      "We shall go down with unreluctant tread

Rose-crowned into the darkness!" . . . Proud we were,

And laughed, that had such brave true things to say.

-- And then you suddenly cried, and turned away.