When the game began between them for a jest, | |
He played king and she played queen to match the best; | |
Laughter soft as tears, and tears that turned to laughter, | |
These were things she sought for years and sorrowed after. | |
Pleasure with dry lips, and pain that walks by night; | |
All the sting and all the stain of long delight; | |
These were things she knew not of, that knew not of her, | |
When she played at half a love with half a lover. | |
Time was chorus, gave them cues to laugh or cry; | |
10 | They would kill, befool, amuse him, let him die; |
Set him webs to weave to-day and break to-morrow, | |
Till he died for good in play, and rose in sorrow. | |
What the years mean; how time dies and is not slain; | |
How love grows and laughs and cries and wanes again; | |
These were things she came to know, and take their measure, | |
When the play was played out so for one man’s pleasure. |