Heidi & Rhys Sat 22/02/2014

My Delight and Thy DelightRobert Bridges

MY delight and thy delightWalking, like two angels white,In the gardens of the night:My desire and thy desireTwining to a tongue of fire,Leaping live, and laughing higher:

Thro’ the everlasting strifeIn the mystery of life.

Love, from whom the world begun,Hath the secret of the sun.

Love can tell, and love alone,Whence the million stars were strewn,Why each atom knows its own,How, in spite of woe and death,Gay is life, and sweet is breath:

This he taught us, this we knew,Happy in his science true,Hand in hand as we stood‘Neath the shadows of the wood,Heart to heart as we layIn the dawning of the day.

Ah! Why, Because the Dazzling SunEmily Bronte

Ah! why, because the dazzling sunRestored my earth to joyHave you departed, every one,And left a desert sky?

All through the night, your glorious eyesWere gazing down in mine,And with a full heart’s thankful sighsI blessed that watch divine!

I was at peace, and drank your beamsAs they were life to meAnd revelled in my changeful dreamsLike petrel on the sea.

Thought followed thought—star followed starThrough boundless regions on,While one sweet influence, near and far,Thrilled through and proved us one.

Why did the morning rise to breakSo great, so pure a spell,And scorch with fire the tranquil cheekWhere your cool radiance fell?

Blood-red he rose, and arrow-straight,His fierce beams struck my brow;The soul of Nature sprang elate,But mine sank sad and low!

My lids closed down—yet through their veilI saw him blazing still;And bathe in gold the misty dale,And flash upon the hill.

I turned me to the pillow thenTo call back Night, and seeYour worlds of solemn light, againThrob with my heart and me!

It would not do—the pillow glowedAnd glowed both roof and floor,And birds sang loudly in the wood,And fresh winds shook the door.

The curtains waved, the wakened fliesWere murmuring round my room,Imprisoned there, till I should riseAnd give them leave to roam.

O Stars and Dreams and Gentle Night;O Night and Stars return!And hide me from the hostile lightThat does not warm, but burn—

That drains the blood of suffering men;Drinks tears, instead of dew:Let me sleep through his blinding reign,And only wake with you!

Because She Would Ask Me Why I Loved HerChristopher John Brennan

If questioning would make us wise No eyes would ever gaze in eyes; If all our tale were told in speech No mouths would wander each to each.

Were spirits free from mortal mesh And love not bound in hearts of flesh No aching breasts would yearn to meet And find their ecstasy complete.

For who is there that lives and knows The secret powers by which he grows? Were knowledge all, what were our need To thrill and faint and sweetly bleed?

Then seek not, sweet, the “If ” and “Why” I love you now until I die. For I must love because I live And life in me is what you give.