" ALL that I ask," says Love, "is just to stand And gaze, unchided, deep in thy dear eyes; For in their depths lies largest Paradise. Yet, if perchance one pressure of thy hand Be granted me, then joy I thought complete Were still more sweet." "All that I ask," says Love, "all that I ask, Is just thy hand clasp. Could I brush thy cheek As zephyrs brush a rose leaf, words are weak To tell the bliss in which my soul would bask. There is no language but would desecrate A joy so great." "All that I ask, is just one tender touch Of that soft cheek. Thy pulsing palm in mine, Thy dark eyes lifted in a trust divine And those curled lips that tempt me overmuch Turned where I may not seize the supreme bliss Of one mad kiss. "All that I ask," says Love, "of life, of death. Or of high heaven itself, is just to stand, Glance melting into glance, hand twined in hand, The while I drink the nectar of thy breath, In one sweet kiss, but one, of all thy store, I ask no more." "All that I ask "--nay, self-deceiving Love, Reverse thy phrase, so thus the words may fall, In place of "all I ask," say, "I ask all," All that pertains to earth or soars above, All that thou weft, art, will be, body, soul, Love asks the whole. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...LET ME NOT LOSES MY DREAM by GEORGIA DOUGLAS JOHNSON TUNICA PALLIO PROPRIOR by MARIANNE MOORE ISN'T IT ROMANTIC by KAREN SWENSON HIS MOTHER'S SERVICE TO OUR LADY by FRANCOIS VILLON BROTHERS by GERARD MANLEY HOPKINS AFTER THE WAR by RICHARD THOMAS LE GALLIENNE SONG OF THE BROAD-AXE by WALT WHITMAN FITZ-GREENE HALLECK, AT THE UNVEILING OF HIS STATUE by JOHN GREENLEAF WHITTIER |