The Night Dream

To R. L.

NEITHER her voice, her name,

Eyes, quietness neither,

That moved through the light, that came

Cold stalk in her teeth

Bitten of some blue flower

Knew I before nor saw.

This was a dream. Ah,

This was a dream. There was sun

Laid on the cloths of a table

We drank together. Her mouth

Was a lion's mouth out of jade

Cold with a fable of water.

Faces I could not see

Watched me with gentleness. Grace

Folded my body with wings.

I cannot love you she said.

My head she laid on her breast.

As stillness with ringing of bees

I was filled with a singing of praise.

Knowledge filled me and peace.

We were silent and not ashamed.

Ah we were glad that day.

They asked me but it was one

Dead they meant and not I.

She was beside me she said.

We rode in a desert place.

We were always happy. Her sleeves

Jangled with earrings of gold.

They told me the wind from the south

Was the cold wind to be feared.

We were galloping under the leaves

This was a dream, Ah

This was a dream.

And her mouth

Was not your mouth nor her eyes,

But the rivers were four and I knew

As a secret between us, the way

Hands touch, it was you.