Love at Sea

Imitated from Thophile Gautier     We are in loves land to-day;     Where shall we go?     Love, shall we start or stay,     Or sail or row?     Theres many a wind and way,     And never a May but May;     We are in loves hand to-day;     Where shall we go?     Our landwind is the breath     Of sorrows kissed to death     And joys that were;     Our ballast is a rose;     Our way lies where God knows     And love knows where.     We are in loves hand to-day     Our seamen are fledged Loves,     Our masts are bills of doves,     Our decks fine gold;     Our ropes are dead maids hair,     Our stores are love-shafts fair     And manifold.     We are in loves land to-day     Where shall we land you, sweet?     On fields of strange mens feet,     Or fields near home?     Or where the fire-flowers blow,     Or where the flowers of snow     Or flowers of foam?     We are in loves hand to-day     Land me, she says, where love     Shows but one shaft, one dove,     One heart, one hand.     A shore like that, my dear,     Lies where no man will steer,     No maiden land.