OnaStairIStood

SEERE103

Lately as dreaming on a stair I stood
youpassed meby，and， byIookingonmyface，
blinded my eyes with the immediate grace
ofunanticipated neighboourhood.
As lightning splits the clouds， my heart and blood
split with your beatuty， and began to race，
now ice， now fever， shattered in their place
bythatunparalleledbeatitutde.
And if you hand in passing had not beckoned-
your whiter hand than is the swan's white daughter，
Helen， your eyes had wounded me to death.
But your hand saved me in the mortal second，
and your triumphant eyes the moment after
revived their captive with an alms of breath.