Poems (Taylor)/Dialogue

DIALOGUE

I.

Ghost Without: Dost thou remember?
Thy window-pane is lit;
What music under it
Stings thro' the wind and rain?
She Within: Oh! Clad in cloth-of-gold,
Crowned like a queen of old,
Have I to do with pain?
Why should I remember?

II.

Ghost: Dost thou remember?
For it is All Souls' Eve,
Poor soul that could not cleave,
Poor craven Convertite,—

She:Ah! Here the Bridegroom's kiss,
Perfume of ambergris,
Braziers of silver light!
Why should I remember?

II.

Ghost:Dost thou remember
No colour of the Past?—
She:Its beauty hath me fast.
Beneath mine eyes quaint kohl,
Far sound of silver bells
Within my voice of spells,
Faint sweetness in my soul,
It is. Do I remember?

IV.

Ghost:Dost thou remember
The love, the pain, the sin?—
She:O far-off violin,
Spare now to vex and pierce.
What epithalamies
Of mockery are these?
His eyes are kind as tears.
I will not remember!

V.

Ghost:Dost thou remember
The long strange kisses given
Beneath a rose-pale heaven?—
My mouth is purple yet,
She:Like to a grape new-pressed,
A wound upon the breast.—
How then may I forget?
And so I must remember!

VI.

Ghost:Dost thou remember
The glory and the guilt,
The magic moonlight spilt
Between the aspens wet?—
She:Out to the rain and wind
I come, for I can find
No place where to forget.
God, how I remember!