Lay your head back; and now, kiss me again! Kneel there, and do not kiss me; let me hold Your cheeks between my hands; your cheeks are cold, And all your chin tightens, as if with pain, And your eyes close upon the ecstasy, Like one who dies in the agony of peace. So I have seen the face of Beatrice, In pictures, dead, and in a memory Seeing the face of Dante out of heaven. O, out of heaven, when for my sake you lean, Till not a breath of the world may come between Our lips that are our souls, and all the seven Delighted heavens lean down with you, to bless The sacrament of joy, then, with such eyes, Closed on so still a new-born Paradise, You endure the martyrdom of happiness. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THE CUPBOARD by WALTER JOHN DE LA MARE UPON JULIA'S VOICE by ROBERT HERRICK CREDO by EDWIN ARLINGTON ROBINSON THE SENSITIVE PLANT by PERCY BYSSHE SHELLEY AFTER THE PLAY by HAMILTON FISH ARMSTRONG THE PROEM. TO LOVE by PHILIP AYRES |