Song of Songs, Lover of Lovers

My lover is mine and I am his

His hair like woven strands of gold

His lips so soft, his arms so tight-

Resting his head upon my breast

Hearing it’s stuttering rhyme

As my heart leaps out towards him.

My lover’s name is an ointment

Which soothes my muscles and skin

Until its uttered within

The dark room of my bedchamber

Said to myself like an old prayer

My lover is mine and I am his

My beloved is starving

His eyes plead with me, desperate

I look within them and I know:

I will place myself at the head

Of the dining table: eat, love.

Need me to my very centre

As I need you, as I hold out

Myself to you: body opened.

Mark me as yours, my love, and I

Will mark you as mine in return.

My lover is mine and I am his

And as the world shakes I hold him

Close, closer, closer still, I beg

Hand around my hand- harmony

Halving me, shaking me, wanting

I am wanting, keep going love

I am yours, I am yours, I am

Yours- if you will let me be so?

Let me be so, so desperate,

So controlled: hungry and full.

Culminating and exhaling…

My lover is mine and I am his

The tempo slows; I hold his face.

That precious gem, gleaming beauty.

Not rows of jewels nor chains of gold

Could adorn him without blushing,

My beloved outstrips them all.

So sweet is his voice in my ear

And so comely are his words too

That I silence the crashing wave

And hold off the thunder above

To hear his whispered promise.

My lover is mine and I am his

When the raindrops fall upon me

My lover brushes them away.

Maybe he sees something in me

That is worth enduring all this

Fragility. A half-formed girl.

He comes to me in dreams each night,

And looks at me through my veil-

He looks at the pale flesh

He sees the blossoming marks

Of love I asked him to paint

My lover is mine and I am his

And when I awaken he’s there,

Real and next to me in bed.

My body has inched closer

To him in sleep: knowing him

And the peace he brings me.

I ask him to kiss me again,

Without hesitation he does.

His pulse beats the current

Of my dance, steady drums,

He hums with my movement

My lover is mine and I am his

And the song keeps going…