Had I but known yesterday, <br />Helen, you could discharge the ache <br /> Out of the cloud; <br />Had I known yesterday you could take <br />The turgid electric ache away, <br /> Drink it up with your proud <br />White body, as lovely white lightning <br />Is drunk from an agonised sky by the earth, <br />I might have hated you, Helen. <br /> <br />But since my limbs gushed full of fire, <br />Since from out of my blood and bone <br /> Poured a heavy flame <br />To you, earth of my atmosphere, stone <br />Of my steel, lovely white flint of desire, <br /> You have no name. <br />Earth of my swaying atmosphere, <br />Substance of my inconstant breath, <br />I cannot but cleave to you. <br /> <br />Since you have drunken up the drear <br />Painful electric storm, and death <br /> Is washed from the blue <br />Of my eyes, I see you beautiful. <br />You are strong and passive and beautiful, <br />I come like winds that uncertain hover; <br /> But you <br />Are the earth I hover over.<br /><br />David Herbert Lawrence<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/reproach-2/
