Quietly, last night you spoke your fear
that, though your choice as yet is indeterminate,
the ever-looming date is drawing near
when love must cease or become permanent;
And that if you, e.g., should choose the latter,
you further fear our love will gather dust,
or worse, having been too much exposed to water,
our iron bonds should oxidize and rust.
And Love, I scarcely could more thankful be
that you have opened up and thus expressed
your love and fear and other thoughts to me,
rescuing them from their prison in your breast--
but I feel if we can trust and listen well,
we need not even fear the hounds of hell.
