Silver and Roses, Henna and Myrrh

 

 

 

 

 

To the Joy of My Yearning

 

Mine Autumn damask rose, may I unthorn

Thy stem but leave thy petals injured not?

My faith in thy respect let naught suborn,

Else may my days embrace a barren lot.

Thou Shang Ri-La enclosed in peaks sublime,

Make known to me that hidden, cloven crag

Whereby may I thee bear my loving rhyme

And love as peers the glory of this flag.

The harbor which the sea forfends from ships

Is not a harbor, nor a grove that bans

The rooted tree a grove, nor true were lips

Whose heart should not unto a heart make spans.

Perfect mine offered kiss, make whole my half,

That, smile in smile, we may as lovers laugh.

 

                        Tuesday, October 29, 1968

 

 

 

 

Image: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Rosa_damascena5.jpg