Page:A treasury of war poetry, British and American poems of the world war, 1914-1919.djvu/198

 198

For me nevermore the bliss,

The thrill of a woman's kiss."

Then I stopped, for lo! she was there,

And a great light shone in her eyes.

And me! I could only stare,

I was taken so by surprise,

When gently she bent her head:

"May I kiss you, sergeant?" she said.

Then she kissed my burning lips,

With her mouth like a scented flower,

And I thrilled to the finger-tips,

And I hadn't even the power

To say: "God bless you, dear!"

And I felt such a precious tear

Fall on my withered cheek,

And darn it! I couldn't speak.

And so she went sadly away,

And I know that my eyes were wet.

Ah, not to my dying day

Will I forget, forget!

Can you wonder now I am gay?

God bless her, that little Fleurette! Robert W. Service

THE RETURN