All Terminable Things

by CHRISTOPHER LA FARGE

THIS terminable body once was yours,
burnt in each fire of your desired burning,
was whole again by all yourself endures,
flew on strong pinions borrowed from your discerning,
walked upon waters by your passionate faith,
drowned in your absence at both dusk and dawn—
till grosser substance turned transparent wraith
as undemanding love from flesh was born.
So to all terminable things, farewell!
Farewell to flesh that was both yours and mine,
that once on lusty mountains could dispel
all dubious clouds with but one mutual sign,
and made the sun that would have set too soon
stand in his heaven till we were done with noon!