The Star and the Garter

Bowered in the lake of nenuphars, Watched by the countless store of stars, The abiding love you bear me. Hear How perfect love casts flying fear Forth from its chambers! Those and this Are utterly apart. The bliss Of this small quarrel far exceeds That dervish rapture, dancer deeds Strained for egregious emphasis. These touch you not! You sit alone Passionless upon passion’s throne, And there is love. Look not below, Lest aught disturb the silver flow Of harmonies of love! Awake! Awake for love’s own solar sake! Diverse devotion we divide From the one overflowing tide. Despise this fact! So lone and far Lies the poor garter, that I gaze Thither; it casts no vivid rays. But hither? I behold the star! 53