Why do you want to leave me, if you love me?–
Because I must,
The years will turn our lips and love to ruin,
Beauty to dust.
Better to leave you while the world's a symbol
Of this bright fire,
So shall old age find brilliant and untarnished
Our love's desire.
Ah, no, the flame is nothing! For the forest
Took years to grow,
And in the ashes is the truth of beauty,
And this I know.
The bud is lovely, but the tree in winter,
Though stark and bare,
Knows all the earth knows, and no love is perfect
Without despair.
Too bright, too new, too shallow, and unconscious
Is young love's heat,
Give me the love that knows the bitter wisdom
Of love's defeat-
Give me the love that grows through time's own
wisdom,
More hard, more sweet.