To One Bereaved

You welcomed me with such a joyous mask Across the silence of your hurt wide eyes, That I too forced banalities and lies And dared no comfort, though I came to ask The many little questions, long rehearsed, Which meant relief, and friendship. What we said So lightly, never touched upon the dead, Yet we both knew that when we laughed we cursed The bitter God who could make laughter too, Beside this sorrow. Strange, we did not stare Mute sympathy: I only smiling sought To show I knew how bitterly was bought Your cheerful beauty. But I turned my chair, Once, when you laughed——, and looked away from you.