More Strong Than Time

Since I have set my lips to your full cup, my sweet,

Since I my pallid face between your hands have laid,

Since I have known your soul, and all the bloom of it,

And all the perfume rare, now buried in the shade;

Since it was given to me to hear on happy while,

The words wherein your heart spoke all its mysteries,

Since I have seen you weep, and since I have seen you smile,

Your lips upon my lips, and your eyes upon my eyes;

Since I have known above my forehead glance and gleam,

A ray, a single ray, of your star, veiled always,

Since I have felt the fall, upon my lifetime's stream,

Of one rose petal plucked from the roses of your days;

I now am bold to say to the swift changing hours,

Pass, pass upon your way, for I grow never old,

Fleet to the dark abysm with all your fading flowers,

One rose that none may pluck, within my heart I hold.

Your flying wings may smite, but they can never spill

The cup fulfilled of love, from which my lips are wet;

My heart has far more fire than you can frost to chill,

My soul more love than you can make my soul forget