Some souls have quickened, eye to eye,
And heart to heart, and instantly
    They understand.

Henceforth they can be cold no more;
    Woes there may be, - ay, tears and blood,
But not the numbness, as before
    They understood.

Henceforth, though ages roll
    Across wild wastes of sand and brine,
Whate'er betide, one human soul
    Is knit with mine.

Whatever joy be dearly bought,
    Whatever hope my bosom stirs,
The straitest cell of secret thought
    Is wholly hers.

Ay, were I parted, life would be
    A helpless, heartless flight along
Blind tracks in vales of misery
    And sloughs of wrong.

Nay, God forgive me!
    Life would roll like some dim moon thro' cloudy bars;
But to have loved her sets my soul
    Among the stars.