Long-felt desires, hopes as long as vain-- <br />sad sighs--slow tears accustomed to run sad <br />into as many rivers as two eyes could add, <br />pouring like fountains, endless as the rain-- <br />cruelty beyond humanity, a pain <br />so hard it makes compassionate stars go mad <br />with pity: these are the first passions I've had. <br />Do you think love could root in my soul again? <br />If it arched the great bow back again at me, <br />licked me again with fire, and stabbed me deep <br />with the violent worst, as awful as before, <br />the wounds that cut me everwhere would keep <br />me shielded, so there would be no place free <br />for love. It covers me. It can pierce no more.<br /><br />Louise Labe<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/long-felt-desires/
