They made the chamber sweet with flowers and leaves, 
And the bed sweet with flowers on which I lay; 
While my soul, love-bound, loitered on its way. 
I did not hear the birds about the eaves, 
Nor hear the reapers talk among the sheaves: 
Only my soul kept watch from day to day, 
My thirsty soul kept watch for one away:-- 
Perhaps he loves, I thought, remembers, grieves. 
At length there came the step upon the stair, 
Upon the lock the old familiar hand: 
Then first my spirit seemed to scent the air 
Of Paradise; then first the tardy sand 
Of time ran golden; and I felt my hair 
Put on a glory,and my soul expand.