Selections from 'Words for Music Perhaps'

I went out alone
To sing a song or two,
My fancy on a man,
And you know who.

Another came in sight
That on a stick relied
To hold himself upright;
I sat and cried.

And that was all my song -
When everything is told,
Saw I an old man young
Or young man old?

'She will change,' I cried. 
'Into a withered crone.' 
The heart in my side, 
That so still had lain,
In noble rage replied 
And beat upon the bone:

'Uplift those eyes and throw 
Those glances unafraid:
She would as bravely show 
Did all the fabric fade;
No withered crone I saw 
Before the world was made.'

Abashed by that report, 
For the heart cannot lie,
I knelt in the dirt.
And all shall bend the knee 
To my offended heart 
Until it pardon me.

Earth in beauty dressed
Awaits returning spring.
All true love must die,
Alter at the best
Into some lesser thing.
Prove that I lie.

Such body lovers have,
Such exacting breath,
That they touch or sigh.
Every touch they give,
Love is nearer death.
Prove that I lie.

Undying love to buy
I wrote upon
The corners of this eye
All wrongs done.
What payment were enough
For undying love?

I broke my heart in two
So hard I struck.
What matter? for I know
That out of rock,
Out of a desolate source,
Love leaps upon its course.