Ambergris

AMBERGRIS 71 O fearful firstling dove ! My dawn and spring of love, Love’s light and lure ! Look (as I bend above) Through bright lids filled thereof Perfect and pure, Thy bloom of maidenhood. I could not : if I could, I would not : being good, Also endure ! Cruel, to tear or mar The chaliced nenuphar ; Cruel to press The rosebud ; cruel to scar Or stain the flower-star With mad caress. But crueller to destroy The leaping life and joy Born in a careless boy From lone distress. More cruel then art thou The calm and chaste of brow, If thou dost this. Forget the feeble vow Ill sworn ; all laws allow Pity, that is Kin unto love, and mild List to the sad and wild Crying of the lonely child Who asks a kiss. One kiss, like snow, to slip, Cool fragrance from thy lip To melt on mine ; One kiss, a white-sail ship To laugh and leap and dip Her brows divine ;