Seven Seals

Since this is the last night I keep you home,     Come, I will consecrate you for the journey.     Rather I had you would not go. Nay come,     I will not again reproach you. Lie back     And let me love you a long time ere you go.     For you are sullen-hearted still, and lack     The will to love me. But even so     I will set a seal upon you from my lip,     Will set a guard of honour at each door,     Seal up each channel out of which might slip     Your love for me.          I kiss your mouth. Ah, love,     Could I but seal its ruddy, shining spring     Of passion, parch it up, destroy, remove     Its softly-stirring crimson welling-up     Of kisses! Oh, help me, God! Here at the source     I'd lie for ever drinking and drawing in     Your fountains, as heaven drinks from out their course     The floods.          I close your ears with kisses     And seal your nostrils; and round your neck you'll wear -     Nay, let me work - a delicate chain of kisses.     Like beads they go around, and not one misses     To touch its fellow on either side.          And there     Full mid-between the champaign of your breast     I place a great and burning seal of love     Like a dark rose, a mystery of rest     On the slow bubbling of your rhythmic heart.     Nay, I persist, and very faith shall keep     You integral to me. Each door, each mystic port     Of egress from you I will seal and steep     In perfect chrism.         Now it is done. The mort     Will sound in heaven before it is undone.     But let me finish what I have begun     And shirt you now invulnerable in the mail     Of iron kisses, kisses linked like steel.     Put greaves upon your thighs and knees, and frail     Webbing of steel on your feet. So you shall feel     Ensheathed invulnerable with me, with seven     Great seals upon your outgoings, and woven     Chain of my mystic will wrapped perfectly     Upon you, wrapped in indomitable me.