The Sleeping Lovers
“How wonderful is Death” -Shelley, Queen Mab
Too much desire and we tire
Of desire for desire.
Too much desiring, and weary,
Still loving, we are leery
Of doom from a fiery desire;
Water will not cool desire;
But fire may end fire.
Away from you, desire for you
Yearns and writhes and frets:
What things will desire desire
If desire never forgets?
How can we live in the hour?
A moment dreams a flower,
A moment speaks its mind.
Speaks? But we are blind!
Moment to moment lives by the deep.
We will die; or if not die, sleep.
Drop the trophies of our desire
In the tallest fire.
And let the love we finally keep
Live in our eyes as we fall asleep.
