Ethelwyn Wetherald - Absence lyrics

Dear grey-winged angel, with the mouth set stern And time-devouring eyes, the sweetest sweet Of kisses when two severed lovers meet Is thine; the cruellest ache in hearts that yearn, The fears that freeze, the hopes that leap and burn, Thine--thine! And thine the drum-and-trumpet beat Of hearts that wait for unreturning feet, When comes at last the hour of their return. Of Love's fair ministers thou art the chief. To jaded souls, asleep beside their vows, Thou givest hopes, keen joys and vague alarms; Beneath thy touch the brown and yellow leaf Turns to pink blossom, and the spring-bright boughs Frame lovers running to each other's arms.