| Rupert Brooke (1887–1915). Collected Poems. 1916. |
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| II. 1908–1911 |
| 19. Libido |
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| HOW should I know? The enormous wheels of will | |
| Drove me cold-eyed on tired and sleepless feet. | |
| Night was void arms and you a phantom still, | |
| And day your far light swaying down the street. | |
| As never fool for love, I starved for you; | 5 |
| My throat was dry and my eyes hot to see. | |
| Your mouth so lying was most heaven in view, | |
| And your remembered smell most agony. | |
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| Love wakens love! I felt your hot wrist shiver | |
| And suddenly the mad victory I planned | 10 |
| Flashed real, in your burning bending head.… | |
| My conqueror’s blood was cool as a deep river | |
| In shadow; and my heart beneath your hand | |
| Quieter than a dead man on a bed. | |
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