JOSEPH

If the stars fell; night's nameless dreams

Of bliss and blasphemy came true,

If skies were green and snow were gold,

And you loved me as I love you;

O long light hands and curled brown hair,

And eyes where sits a naked soul;

Dare I even then draw near and burn

My fingers in the aureole?

Yes, in the one wise foolish hour

God gives this strange strength to a man.

He can demand, though not deserve,

Where ask he cannot, seize he can.

But once the blood's wild wedding o'er,

Were not dread his, half dark desire,

To see the Christ-child in the cot,

The Virgin Mary by the fire?