War and Love/An Interlude
AN INTERLUDE
There is a momentary pause in loveWhen all the birth-pangs of desire are lulledBy poppied kisses, when not yet beginsThe light strong life of love that lives indeedThrough many dappled days of good Spring weather,A pause when all the senses are bound upLike flowers to form a garland, which her handWill scatter for delight upon her bed.
One waits,And glides upon the crested surge of daysLike some sea-god, with tangled dripping beardAnd smooth hard skin, who glimpses from the seaAn earth-girl named by the soft foam fringe,And, utterly forgetting all his life,Flings toward the shore, is caught up by a waveAnd hurried toward her, glad with sudden love!
Even in that pause of speed I live;And though the great wave curl in spikes of foamAnd crash me bleeding at her cool small feetAll breathless with the waters' sudden swirl,I shall be glad of every stabbing woundIf she will hold my tired limbs to hersAnd breathe wild love into my mouth and thrillEven the blood I shed with that desireWhich throbs all through me at her lightest touch.