As I walked out one harvest night br About the stroke of One, br The Moon attained to her full height br Stood beaming like the Sun. br She exorcised the ghostly wheat br To mute assent in Love's defeat br Whose tryst had now begun. br br The fields lay sick beneath my tread, br A tedious owlet cried; br The nightingale above my head br With this or that replied, br Like man and wife who nightly keep br Inconsequent debate in sleep br As they dream side by side. br br Your phantom wore the moon's cold mask, br My phantom wore the same, br Forgetful of the feverish task br In hope of which they came, br Each image held the other's eyes br And watched a grey distraction rise br To cloud the eager flame. br br To cloud the eager flame of love, br To fog the shining gate: br They held the tyrannous queen above br Sole mover of their fate, br They glared as marble statues glare br Across the tessellated stair br Or down the Halls of State. br br And now cold earth was Arctic sea, br Each breath came dagger keen, br Two bergs of glinting ice were we, br The broad moon sailed between; br There swam the mermaids, tailed and finned, br And Love went by upon the wind br As though it had not been.