I was at peace until you came br And set a careless mind aflame; br I lived in quiet; cold, content; br All longing in safe banishment, br Until your ghostly lips and eyes br Made wisdom unwise. br br Naught was in me to tempt your feet br To seek a lodging. Quite forgot br Lay the sweet solitude we two br In childhood used to wander through; br Time's cold had closed my heart about, br And shut you out. br br Well, and what then? . . . O vision grave, br Take all the little all I have! br Strip me of what in voiceless throught br Life's kept of life, unhoped, unsought! -- br Reverie and dream that memory must br Hide deep in dust! br br This only I say: Though cold and bare, br The haunted house you have chosen to share, br Still 'neath its walls the moonbeam goes br And trembles on the untended rose; br Still o'er its broken roof-tree rise br The starry arches of the skies; br And 'neath your lightest word shall be br The thunder of an ebbing sea.