#still languishing how beautiful this episode is despite my headache

[seekers-who-are-lovers]

“Hope” is the thing with feathers -

That perches in the soul -

And sings the tune without the words -

And never stops - at all - ( x )

Are you the new person drawn toward me?

To begin with, take warning, I am surely far different from what you suppose;

Do you suppose you will find in me your ideal?

Do you think it so easy to have me become your lover?

Do you think the friendship of me would be unalloy’d satisfaction?

Do you think I am trusty and faithful?

Do you see no further than this façade, this smooth and tolerant manner of me?

Do you suppose yourself advancing on real ground toward a real heroic man?

Have you no thought, O dreamer, that it may be all maya, illusion? ( x )

His thoughts, delivered to me

From the white coverlet and pillow,

I see now, were inheritance—

Delicate riders of the storm.

Of a youth who loves me and whom I love, silently approaching and seating himself near, that he may hold me by the hand,

A long while amid the noises of coming and going, of drinking and oath and smutty jest,

There we two, content, happy in being together, speaking little, perhaps not a word. ( x )

I see thy limbs that love hath never known

For the first time on this our night of love.

We two together never have lain down;

Now one, adoring, keepeth watch thereof.

See how thy hands are torn—thy gentle hands-:

Beloved, not by me, not by my kiss.

Thy infinite heart to all men open stands:

O I alone, alone, should have that bliss. ( x )