SWEETEST, in desperate hours <br />Of clouds and lightning and rain, <br />You came like a vision of flowers <br />And summer and song once again: <br />You came, and I could not receive you, <br />Seared in my flesh, in my sight. <br />I heedlessly turned back to leave you; <br />We passed on into the night. <br />(Heart, soul and all, sweet, never to sever, Love me for ever!) <br />Dearest, in hours of twilight, <br />Terrible, silent and lone, <br />When the light, long sought for as my light <br />And found, for ever seemed gone — <br />When the hope of the love-dream of boyhood <br />Passed sad with unknowing rebuff, <br />With your passionate patience and joyhood <br />You came, O my Priestess of Love! <br />(Heart, soul and all, dear, never to sever, Love me for ever!) <br />With your lips to mine deathly-reposing, <br />You kissed back the blood and the sighs: <br />You lit up my tired eyes unclosing <br />With the light of your beautiful eyes. <br />You held me close-pressed to your bosom, <br />Your heart to my heart, beating strong, <br />In mine eyes put your life like a blossom, <br />Put my love in your lips like a song! <br />(Heart, soul and all, sweet, never to sever, <br />Love me for ever!) <br />Dearest, of my heart-blood's Evangel <br />I hail you Queen, and of me: <br />Sweetest, I revere you Archangel <br />Of the better time that shall be. <br />So to these Songs, for my love's sake, <br />As Priestess of Love must you stand, <br />And, for the great Truth above's sake, <br />God's seraph with his sword in your hand! <br />(Heart, soul and all, dear, never to sever, <br />Love me for ever!)<br /><br />Francis William Lauderdale Adams<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/dedication-to-his-love/
