The Gift Of The Gods

"GIVE me thy dreams," she said, and I
With empty hands and very poor,
Watched my fair flowery visions die
Upon the temple's marble floor.
"Give joy," she said. I let joy go;
I saw with cold, unclouded eyes
The crimson of the sunset glow
Across the disenchanted skies.
"Give me thy youth," she said. I gave,
And, sudden-clouded, died the sun,
And on the green mound of a grave
Fell the slow raindrops, one by one.
"Give love," she cried. I gave that too.
"Give beauty." Beauty sighed and fled;
For what on earth should beauty do,
When love, who was her life, was dead?
She took the balm of innocent tears
To hiss upon her altar-coal;
She took the hopes of all my years,
And, at the last, she took my soul.
With heart made empty of delight,
And hands that held no more fair things
I questioned her--"What shall requite
The savour of my offerings?"
"The Gods," she said, "with generous hand
Give guerdon for thy gifts of cost--
Wisdom is thine--to understand
The worth of all that thou hast lost!"