PRAYER
Lord and father of life,
Of death and of bitter weeping,
One or many, pitiful or cruel,
Hear me, my prayer beating
Like rain importunately, without intermission,
For life, for a little life.
Lord, you know not her or love
If you let death take me,
I will speak outright:
No God, no nation, no cause,
No life of any man, no person,
Nothing created or living,
Do I love as I love her.
I do not ask you for her—
No god can take her from me,
Take her kisses and lithe body.
I ask life, a few years
To pour out for her,
Until she tires of me
Or age loosens her sinews
And I be no more delightful to her.
Her body is honey and wheat,
The taste of her mouth delicate;
Her eyes overcome me with desire,
Her lips are a woman's.
Under her feet I spread my days
As soft silk for her walking.
[81]
