Night Speech

MAN’S SONG

TOUCHING in sleep, my only speech
My rib to yours, to say:
Do not go now to this night’s lover;
Remember the laurel,
How white we met.
My arm is laurel, that burns in sleep
And walks apart by day.

WOMAN’S SONG

BRUSHING in sleep, I touched such speech
As the dead knelt to say:
“I am the throat, of your first lover.
Remember the laurel,
How white we lay?
Break then, lest two dreams crossed in sleep
Bleed laurel too, away.