Jump to content

For Eager Lovers (Taggard collection)/Poet in the Basement

From Wikisource
4678901For Eager Lovers — Poet in the BasementGenevieve Taggard
POET IN THE BASEMENT
Only to tell your loveliness—this love:
Only to tell
Pain's odor, beauty-burning miracle
Of my surrender!
Late I flew . . .
But ever arrow-straight
I fly now from the shade that falls—that fell
Lightly on you,
On me with a wave's weight.

Oh, I must go: this city has a spell
I never gave it leave to have. Still, still to tell
The weaving of your footsteps on the stairs
With my slow-dropping love for you that wears
Cold stone I want my heart for—still I stay.
Put out the stars. Give me another day
Only to tell.