On a Grey Thread/You Are Not She

by Elsa Gidlow

You Are Not She

You are not she I loved. You cannot be
   My wild, white dove,
My tempest-driven dove that I gave house,
   You cannot be my Love.

She died. I used to hold her all night long;
   Come awake
At dawn beside her. Try to ease with loving
   A thirst too deep to slake.

O, it was pain to keep her shut against me.
   Honey and bitterness
To taste her with sharp kisses and hold her after
   In brief duress.

You cold woman, you stranger with her ways,
   Smiling cruelly,
You tear my heart as never her wild wings'
      beating
   Wounded me.

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