The gray sea and the long black land; And the yellow half-moon large and low: And the startled little waves that leap In fiery ringlets from their sl… - Robert Browning

My whole life long I learn'd to love,
This hour my utmost art I prove.
And speak my passion — — heaven or hell?
She will not give me heaven? 'Tis well!

That moment she was mine, mine, fair,
Perfectly pure and good: I found
A thing to do, and all her hair
In one long yellow string I wound
Three times her little throat around,
And strangled her. No pain felt she;
I am quite sure she felt no pain.
As a shut bud that holds a bee,
I warily oped her lids: again
Laughed the blue eyes without a stain.
And I untightened the next tress
About her neck; her cheek once more
Blushed bright beneath my burning kiss . . .

We loved, sir — used to meet: How sad and bad and mad it was — But then, how it was sweet!