The Old Road to Paradise/An Afternoon
For works with similar titles, see Afternoon.
AN AFTERNOON
This was one of the dreary whiles When a woman sits and smiles Wishing all the talk was over, Inward thought a weary rover . . . But my lips smiled vividly—Ah, the women could not see How my hand in yours lay warm Through wide miles of sun and storm (Far away, dear, did you know That I smiled to feel it so?)
And my eyes burned bright, elate, Into theirs of drearier fate, Seeing your eyes' lovingness Into mine smile deep and bless (Far away, love, did you see On your eyes mine lovingly?)
While between the words they made, Weary words, I think, dull-weighed, We were talking each to each—Why, too short for all our speech Was the lingering afternoon, Throbbing fast and vanished soon (Far away, love, did you hear All I whispered in your ear?)
And they said—I heard them say—"What it is to be young and gay! How she pleasured in the day!"