Ambergris

72 AMBERGRIS One kiss a starbeam faint With love of a sweet saint, Stolen like a sacrament In the night’s shrine ! One kiss, like moonlight cold Lighting with floral gold The lake’s low tune : One kiss, one flower to fold, On its own calyx rolled, At night, in June ! One kiss, like dewfall, drawn A veil o’er leaf and lawn— Mix night, and noon, and dawn, Dew, flower, and moon ! One kiss, intense, supreme ! The sense of Nature’s dream And scent of Heaven Shown lin the glint and gleam Of the pure dawn’s first beam, With earth for leaven ; Moulded of fire and gold, Water and wine to fold Me in its life, and hold !— In all but seven ! I would not kiss thee, I ! Lest my lip’s charactery Ruin thy flower. Curve thou one maidenly Kiss, stooping from thy sky Of peace and power ! Thine only be the embrace !— I move not from my place, Feel the exultant face Mine for an hour !