Lord and father of life, Of death and of bitter weeping, One or many, pitiful or cruel, Hear me, my prayer beating Like rain importunately, without intermission, For life, for a little life. Lord, you know not her or love If you let death take me, I will speak outright: No God, no nation, no cause, No life of any man, no person, Nothing created or living, Do I love as I love her. I do not ask you for her- No god can take her from me, Take her kisses and lithe body. I ask life, a few years To pour out for her, Until she tires of me Or age loosens her sinews And I be no more delightful to her. Her body is honey and wheat, The taste of her mouth delicate; Her eyes overcome me with desire, Her lips are a woman's. Under her feet I spread my days As soft silk for her walking. She touches me with her hands And I am faint with beauty. The embraces of her body are wonderful, They are more to me than wisdom or honours. Therefore I am not willing to die Since she needs me. For her sake I would betray my comrades, I would rend the vesture of the most high! Yet if you are so avid of blood That even she cannot move you, Poor God without a lover, Slay us together, mouth to mouth and happy, And we will thank not curse you. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...EPITAPH IN BALLADE FORM by FRANCOIS VILLON THE MAD GARDENER'S SONG by CHARLES LUTWIDGE DODGSON THE CUMBERLAND [MARCH 8, 1862] by HENRY WADSWORTH LONGFELLOW SONG by ARTHUR WILLIAM EDGAR O'SHAUGHNESSY DOLORES by ALGERNON CHARLES SWINBURNE A FINE DAY ON LOUGH SWILLY by WILLIAM ALEXANDER (1824-1911) |