A Woman's Shortcomings

9She trembles her fan in a sweetness dumb,

10As her thoughts were beyond recalling;

11With a glance for one, and a glance for some,

12From her eyelids rising and falling;

13Speaks common words with a blushful air,

14Hears bold words, unreproving;

15But her silence says - what she never will swear -

16And love seeks better loving.

17Go, lady! lean to the night-guitar,

18And drop a smile to the bringer;

19Then smile as sweetly, when he is far,

20At the voice of an in-door singer.

21Bask tenderly beneath tender eyes;

22Glance lightly, on their removing;

23And join new vows to old perjuries -

24But dare not call it loving!

25Unless you can think, when the song is done,

26No other is soft in the rhythm;

27Unless you can feel, when left by One,

28That all men else go with him;

29Unless you can know, when unpraised by his breath,

30That your beauty itself wants proving;

31Unless you can swear "For life, for death!" -

32Oh, fear to call it loving!

33Unless you can muse in a crowd all day

34On the absent face that fixed you;

35Unless you can love, as the angels may,

36With the breadth of heaven betwixt you;

37Unless you can dream that his faith is fast,

38Through behoving and unbehoving;

39Unless you can die when the dream is past -

40Oh, never call it loving!