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From “Semper Eadem”
NOW there is no confusion in our love— | |
| For you are there | |
| With the big brow, the cheek of tougher grain, | |
| The rougher greying hair; | |
| And I am here, with a woman’s throat and hands. | 5 |
| We are apart and different. | |
| And there is something difference understands | |
| That peace knows nothing of. | |
| It is the pain in pleasure that we seek | |
| To kill with kisses, and revive | 10 |
| With other kisses; | |
| For by our hurt we know we are alive. | |
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| The tides return into the salty sea, | |
| And the sea-fingered rocks are swept and grey. | |
| There are no secrets where the sea has crept, | 15 |
| But the sea | |
| Has kept its ageless mystery. | |
| And we, | |
| Beaten by the returning passional tides, | |
| Searched by the stabbing fingers, | 20 |
| Washed and lapped and worn by the old assault, | |
| Knowing again | |
| The bitterness of the receding wave, | |
| With renewed wonder facing the old pain, | |
| We are as close | 25 |
| As one wave fallen upon another wave; | |
| We are as far | |
| As the sky’s star from the sea-shaken star. | |
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| Love is not the moon | |
| Pulling the whole sea up to her. | 30 |
| And there is something darkness understands | |
| These moons know nothing of. | |
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