Erotica/Had We but Met
< Erotica
Had We but Met
Ah, Love, had we but met before,
When standing at the gate of life,
Ere we had opened wide that door—
Now, I a husband, you a wife,
Have met too late. Ah, say not so,
You would have loved me years ago.
When standing at the gate of life,
Ere we had opened wide that door—
Now, I a husband, you a wife,
Have met too late. Ah, say not so,
You would have loved me years ago.
Then why not now! What earthly ties
Made by mankind can bind our souls
Which rush together! Let us rise
Above such bondage. What controls
A love like ours? 'Tis not of earth,
But from Promethean fires has birth.
Made by mankind can bind our souls
Which rush together! Let us rise
Above such bondage. What controls
A love like ours? 'Tis not of earth,
But from Promethean fires has birth.
'Tis no low-born material flame,
Fanned by the breath of lustful men,
That flickers fiercely first, then tame,
Then fiercely once again, and then
Dies down into grey embers, cold
Because this life seems growing old!
Fanned by the breath of lustful men,
That flickers fiercely first, then tame,
Then fiercely once again, and then
Dies down into grey embers, cold
Because this life seems growing old!
Nay, let our love, Sweet, vanquish Time,
Cast out all fear, forget the past
And its attendant ills—sublime
Stretches the future's vista—vast
Potentialities therein,
To love is surely not a sin!
Cast out all fear, forget the past
And its attendant ills—sublime
Stretches the future's vista—vast
Potentialities therein,
To love is surely not a sin!
'Tis far more sinful, Sweet, to me,
To yield yourself up to abuse
Of lust in guise of love, than be
Freely beloved. That man's vile use,
Though sanctioned by our social creed,
Has left your body poor indeed.
To yield yourself up to abuse
Of lust in guise of love, than be
Freely beloved. That man's vile use,
Though sanctioned by our social creed,
Has left your body poor indeed.