The Photograph
Reading edition
O Beauty, what is this? A shadow of your face . . . Where is the wild flower grace That Love is wont to kiss? Where is the bird that brings To your untroubled eyes The blue of fairy skies, The flash of fairy wings? . . . O wild bird of delight, That no white hand may hold, Or fairest cage of gold . . . For who would stay its flight? The song-bird of your voice Whose magic song Love hears, Trembling behind your tears, Trilling when you rejoice . . . O Beauty, what is this? The shadow of a rose . . . A little ghost that goes Oblivious of Love’s kiss. Only a shadow . . . yet It may, in some dark hour Recall the living flower . . . If haply Love forget.