Venetian Night

Her eyes in the darkness shone, in the twilight shed By the gondola bent like the darkness over her head. Softly the gondola rocked, lights came and went; A white glove shone as her black fan lifted and leant Where the silk of her dress, the blue of a bittern's wing, Rustled against my knee, and, murmuring The sweet slow hesitant English of a child, Her voice was articulate laughter, her soul smiled. Softly the gondola rocked, lights came and went; From the sleeping houses a shadow of slumber leant Over our heads like a wing, and the dim lagoon, Rustling with silence, slumbered under the moon. Softly the gondola rocked, and a pale light came Over the waters, mild as a silver flame; She lay back, thrilling with smiles, in the twilight shed By the gondola bend like the darkness over her head; I saw her eyes shine subtly, then close awhile: I remember her silence, and, in the night, her smile.