Had I the power <br />To Midas given of old <br />To touch a flower <br />And leave the petals gold <br />I then might touch thy face, <br />Delightful boy, <br />And leave a metal grace, <br />A graven joy. <br />Thus would I slay, - <br />Ah, desperate device! <br />The vital day <br />That trembles in thine eyes, <br />And let the red lips close <br />Which sang so well, <br />And drive away the rose <br />To leave a shell. <br /> <br />Then I myself, <br />Rising austere and dumb <br />On the hight shelf <br />Of my half-lighted room, <br />Would place the shining bust <br />And wait alone, <br />Until I was but dust, <br />Buried unknown. <br /> <br />Thus in my love <br />For nations yet unborn, <br />I would remove <br />From our two lives the morn, <br />And muse on loveliness <br />In mine armchair, <br />Content should Time confess <br />How sweet you were.<br /><br />James Elroy Flecker<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/the-queen-s-song/
