LOVE IN A LIFE

I

1 Room after room,
2 I hunt the house through
3 We inhabit together.
4 Heart, fear nothing, for, heart, thou shalt find her--
5 Next time, herself!--not the trouble behind her
6 Left in the curtain, the couch's perfume!
7 As she brushed it, the cornice-wreath blossomed anew:
8 Yon looking-glass gleamed at the wave of her feather.

II

9 Yet the day wears,
10 And door succeeds door;
11 I try the fresh fortune--
12 Range the wide house from the wing to the centre.
13 Still the same chance! she goes out as I enter.
14 Spend my whole day in the quest,--who cares?
15 But 'tis twilight, you see,--with such suites to explore,
16 Such closets to search, such alcoves to importune!