Dearer,

To me,

Dearest

Than the pulse-deep song

Nearer

Than the

Nearest

Pull of arms or tongue

Scraping

Out of

Scraps of time

Little eternities

Carving

Out of

Carver’s wood

Warmth, and eyes to see

Honey

From the

Sunniest

Of swathes of summer green

Sunnier

Than

God-ish light;

Not gold or gaudy in the least

My lover’s soul is

Sweeter

Than the sweetest songful ring

And so I simply cannot help

But sing.