Page:A treasury of war poetry, British and American poems of the world war, 1914-1919.djvu/360

 360 CONVALESCENCE

E is blind and nevermore

Shall the shining earth entrance

Him, whose life once lay before

Ardour like a bright romance;

But another world is given

Youth thus robbed of half a heaven.

His companions do not speak

When they would accost him: they

Need but touch his hand or cheek,

Then the sightless eyes survey

Love with love, which apprehends

Instantly compassionate friends.

In each several kindly hand

Lies a warm identity:

Blind folk see and understand

Those whom they may never see,

And the deaf may hear Love's word

Uttered, though it be unheard.