A Little After Sappho

Yes!

Yes, beloved, come to me,
and stay beside me here.
Listen to me chatter,
listen to me peal.

Only let me lean to you
and hear you talk to me:

on a blanket, shadow-hatched;
at the table, near and glad;
by the river, willow-pied;
on the pillow, just awake --

brush your hands across my hair
and let me lean to you.

Only let me sit with you
and hear you read to me:

in the twilight, opal-dim;
through the rainfall, low and grey;
with the daylight’s quickening;
when the sun is slanting gold --

brush your hands across my face
and let me sit with you.

Only let me look at you
and hear you play to me:

let me see you arch and stretch;
let me watch you tap and pluck;
let me know the ordered chords;
let me feel them, keen and sweet --

only let me stay with you,
and you shall hear me peal.