So you lost a kiss that you meant to gain?
For I gave it to the Night:
And it flew as high as the furthest star.
And hung like a point of light,
Till an earth-bound soul leaned o'er Heaven's rim
With old memories made sad,
And it nestled close in the angel-hand --
The kiss that you should have had!
So you lost a kiss that you meant to gain?
Why, I gave it to the Night;
And it flitted out to a flower's face
On a moth-wing soft and white;
And a rocking bud with a broken stem,
By the day time drouth left sad,
Gathered it as dew to her wilted breast --
The kiss that you should have had!
So you lost a kiss that you meant to gain?
Oh! I gave it to the Wind;
And it brushed the tears from a maiden's eyes
Whom a false love had made blind;
And the slow smile grew on her trembling lip
With a trust renewed and glad.
'Twas like the touch of a magic wand --
The kiss that you should have had!
So you lost a kiss that you meant to gain?
Why, I gave it to the Wind;
And it went the way of the severed heart,
That never its mate can find...
But at eve, when the dusk is on the trees
And your heart beats low and sad,
'Twill come winging back through the dark to you --
The kiss that you should have had!
First published in The Lone Hand, 1 November 1909
