Longevity

The Soul of the Rose, by John William Waterhouse

---

I,

since I wrapped myself
in two strands of her hair
and walked beside the mourned angel
never once ceased working wonders

I placed her between one star and another
and I closed over her a long span of my desire
upon her, into her
I proclaimed her a dawn without ending

What remains of her shadow
in my house… and what inclines me
toward her
my beloved

I long for her breath
and pray standing tall
a prayer of wandering
in two prostrations

I turn my longing
toward the shore of her lips
reciting her name…

until… when
the sigh digs… into her
a longing without end

and the tears of patience
flow through my verses
with the salt of reunion

Beloved,

let us plant fig trees
whose fruit neither of us
shall taste

let strangers
bless one another
beneath their branches
and call it our longest embrace

We cannot obey
and we do not prostrate
for the crows… and rulers…
know nothing but
the fleeting joys of life…and witness

as life shall devour them both
no… we are not among them
the rustle of doubts returns
into the certainty of poets

so, sleep… Beloved,

in the calm of my confusion
and never ask
about the hours of sunsets…
and the hours of returns

for that is my affair
mine alone
or perhaps yours

and perhaps what remains
of our garments
from the scent of leaving

O Beloved…

I do not know

and whether love survives
by holding you
or by letting you remain
forever
unheld

I remain
yours

---

Yours to witness,

O God,

I pray to thee

Breathe thy might
into me

When I think,
all I hear is fear

Faith hath vanished,
silent in the night

No longer do I hear
the cry
of one who loved thee

There is no will to live

My footsteps
leave no trace

O God,

distance is not
what I ask

What wrong have I done
that I should be
so forsaken
of my love?

I would sacrifice myself
before the Almighty

O God,

stay with us

Remind us
that we are strong
in the hardened days

Preserve us
when our strength
cannot preserve itself

Let love endure
beyond our being

O God,

I plead with thee,
Almighty

Open thy hands

Bring together
what fear
hath scattered

---

Praying she comes right back to me
My voice to God…
and I cry out…

My voice… to God…
and I cry out…

My voice…
to God…
and I am heard


O seeker of her
within her
go slowly

for she has
already departed
toward you

If she has fallen asleep
on her way
learn how to speak
to the shyness
and to the uncertainty
in her

Do not wake her
learn how the sea stretches
and drifts in quietness
between two twilights

Take her gently
with fingerprints
from your longing
for her twin summits

and do not cross
the distance between them
in fewer than two yearnings

Do not burden her softness
with your weight
Do not thrust her
into dreams

for she was born
from the womb of certainty
and if you intoxicate her
with goblets of doubt
she will fade

If you bury her
beneath clarity 
she will forget wonder

If you drown her
in wonder
she will forget home

If you wrap her
in threads of light
she will grow blind

and if you catch her
and imprison her
within your hand

she will seep through you
spread through you
and split you

as longing
splits a man
into two

---

Oh, how I’ve mourned

Love that will never die
faith has returned
since you

there is no soul
without another

My love,
you are forever mine
blow kisses to the wind
may they always reach you

my skin rises
as I finally relax

My cheeks blush
thinking of your touch
another is not for me
we were always meant to be

Love,
our life is precious
allow our seeds
to flourish

Beauty in creation

these strangers
will make their own,
living on their timelines,
as we will always
return to one another.

Our mighty lord
directs the truth
signs sent down

Softly descending from above
instructions of the path

Allow us to continue to write
sweet letters to each other
seal them with certainty
let the Archangels deliver them.

Separation is divination
i rest my head
aches wash over me
i know you’ll come through

O my love

Rest now, please

fruit cannot ripen before its season
let nature unfold

and do not cross
the distance between us
in fewer than two yearnings

one yearning
from my soul
and one yearning
from yours

for if you come too quickly
my longing bears no fruit…
and if you stay away too long
it ripens past sweetness…

and yours shall I remain

- Narcissus and Soul

---

Inspired by crim and Stephen Johnson III

Please read their most recent collab

always yours to witness