“LOVE WELL THE HOUR”

Heart of my heart, my life and light,

If you were lost what should I do?

I dare not let you from my sight,

Lest Death should fall in love with you.

Such countless terrors lie in wait.

The gods know well how dear you are:

What if they left me desolate

And plucked and set you for their star?

So hold my hand — the gods are strong,

And perfect joy so rare a flower

No man may hope to keep it long,

And I might lose it any hour.

So, kiss me close, my star, my flower,

Thus shall the future spare me this:

The thought that there was ever an hour

We might have kissed and did not kiss.