Heidi & Rhys Sat 22/02/2014
My Delight and Thy Delight
Robert Bridges
MY delight and thy delight Walking, like two angels white, In the gardens of the night: My desire and thy desire Twining to a tongue of fire, Leaping live, and laughing higher: Thro’ the everlasting strife In the mystery of life.
Love, from whom the world begun, Hath the secret of the sun.
Love can tell, and love alone, Whence the million stars were strewn, Why each atom knows its own, How, in spite of woe and death, Gay is life, and sweet is breath: This he taught us, this we knew, Happy in his science true, Hand in hand as we stood ‘Neath the shadows of the wood, Heart to heart as we lay In the dawning of the day.
Ah! Why, Because the Dazzling Sun Ah! why, because the dazzling sun Restored my earth to joy Have you departed, every one, And left a desert sky?
Emily Bronte
My lids closed down—yet through their veil I saw him blazing still; And bathe in gold the misty dale, And flash upon the hill.
All through the night, your glorious eyes Were gazing down in mine, And with a full heart’s thankful sighs I blessed that watch divine!
I turned me to the pillow then To call back Night, and see Your worlds of solemn light, again Throb with my heart and me!
I was at peace, and drank your beams As they were life to me And revelled in my changeful dreams Like petrel on the sea.
It would not do—the pillow glowed And glowed both roof and floor, And birds sang loudly in the wood, And fresh winds shook the door.
Thought followed thought—star followed star Through boundless regions on, While one sweet influence, near and far, Thrilled through and proved us one.
The curtains waved, the wakened flies Were murmuring round my room, Imprisoned there, till I should rise And give them leave to roam.
Why did the morning rise to break So great, so pure a spell, And scorch with fire the tranquil cheek Where your cool radiance fell?
O Stars and Dreams and Gentle Night; O Night and Stars return! And hide me from the hostile light That does not warm, but burn—
Blood-red he rose, and arrow-straight, His fierce beams struck my brow; The soul of Nature sprang elate, But mine sank sad and low!
That drains the blood of suffering men; Drinks tears, instead of dew: Let me sleep through his blinding reign, And only wake with you!
Because She Would Ask Me Why I Loved Her Christopher John Brennan
If questioning would make us wise No eyes would ever gaze in eyes; If all our tale were told in speech
No mouths would wander each to each.
Were spirits free from mortal mesh And love not bound in hearts of flesh No aching breasts would yearn to meet And find their ecstasy complete. For who is there that lives and knows The secret powers by which he grows? Were knowledge all, what were our need To thrill and faint and sweetly bleed? Then seek not, sweet, the “If ” and “Why” I love you now until I die. For I must love because I live And life in me is what you give.