NEUTRAL TONES

We stood by a pond that winter day, 

And the sun was white, as though chidden of God, 

And a few leaves lay on the starving sod; 

- They had fallen from an ash, and were grey. 

Your eyes on me were as eyes that rove 

Over tedious riddles of years ago; 

And some words played between us to and fro 

On which lost the more by our love. 

The smile on your mouth was the deadest thing 

Alive enough to have strength to die; 

And a grin of bitterness swept thereby 

Like an ominous bird a-wing -

Since then, keen lessons that love deceives, 

And wrings with wrong, have shaped to me 

Your face, and the God cursed sun, and a tree, 

And a pond edged with greyish leaves. 

121

-o0o-