A Leave-Taking

Algernon Charles Swinburne

1837 to 1909

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Track 1

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      She would not weep.
  Come hence, let be, lie still; it is enough.
  Deep down the stifling lips and drowning hair,
  Let us give up, go down; she will not care.
  Love is a barren sea, bitter and deep;
  And all the world is bitter as a tear.
      She would not see.
  And the sea moving saw before it move
    Yea, though we sang as angels in her ear,
    Let us go hence together without fear;
  Though all those waves went over us, and drove
  There is no help, for all these things are so,
      She would not care.
    Keep silence now, for singing-time is over,
  Let us go home and hence; she will not weep.
  And how these things are, though ye strove to show,
  Though all the stars made gold of all the air,
  She too, remembering days and words that were,
    Let us go seaward as the great winds go,
  We gave love many dreams and days to keep,
    And over all old things and all things dear.
  We are hence, we are gone, as though we had not been there.
    Let us go hence, my songs; she will not hear.
  Saying 'If thou wilt, thrust in thy sickle and reap.'
      She would not love.
    Let us rise up and part; she will not know.
  Nay, and though all men seeing had pity on me,
  And we that sowed, though all we fell on sleep,
  Let us go hence, go hence; she will not see.
  One moon-flower making all the foam-flowers fair;
  Sing all once more together; surely she,
  Let us go hence and rest; she will not love.
  Flowers without scent, and fruits that would not grow,
  And though she saw all heaven in flower above,
  Will turn a little toward us, sighing; but we,
  Nor see love's ways, how sore they are and steep.
      She would not know.
    She loves not you nor me as all we love her.
  All is reaped now; no grass is left to mow;
  Full of blown sand and foam; what help is here?
        She would not hear.
  She shall not hear us if we sing hereof,