Elizabeth Barrett Browning — Life and Love

I. Fast this Life of mine was dying,        &nbspBlind already and calm as death, Snowflakes on her bosom lying        &nbspScarcely heaving with her breath. II. Love came by, and having known her        &nbspIn a dream of fabled lands, Gently stooped, and laid upon her        &nbspMystic chrism of holy hands; III. Drew his smile across her folded        &nbspEyelids, as the swallow dips; Breathed as finely as the cold did        &nbspThrough the locking of her lips. IV. So, when Life looked upward, being        &nbspWarmed and breathed on from above, What sight could she have for seeing,        &nbspEvermore ... but only Love?