De Profundis

I plummeted down,

that labyrinthine way,

where deep calls upon deep.

There, I wrestled the waves,

the murk-laden crests, drowning sweeps, fell sands.

Besot, my soul,

laid waste everything in me

like blackest lead.

Tears beyond count,

loud lamentation aspersed, feeds the salty swirl.

Aphrodite, her foamy tomb,

so fair, verdant, livid,

made naught.

Sirens trumpet-call,

taunting love never-met, never meant to be,

Hades open-mawed,

the old devestatrix,

welcome waits.

Oh that I might sink into oblivion!

Buried in sweet pain,

sweetest might forget, ere sharpest to fight.

Dare I stay,

where no solace, dark mist can depart,

no hope alights, no love echo?

 

An Ode to Chastity

O state of chastity!
Bold as the white lily,
come first spring
from an untouched well.
Reluctant dewfloss
beneath swelling summer,
which bids all green things to bear their fruits.

Thou art a young boy
tunefully singing
his hymnal psalm,
bent beneath the taskmaster,
blushing before maidens
finely wading in Paschal gowns.You are the whisp
of air that heralds morning.
Veiled thinly, more white
than moon-swaddled night,
keeping many secrets,
hidden away from aged, experienced minds.

Yet with virginal voice
you tell men’s’ ears
the matters of angels.
And unashamed of thy girt loins,
like a sheltered lamb,
you lay thyself happily on hidden altars.