T. R. Smith, comp. Poetica Erotica: Rare and Curious Amatory Verse. 1921–22.
To Have and to Hold
Anonymous(From The Point of View) TO have and to hold and to kiss you, | |
| ’Til your eyelids softly close, | |
| To strain to your side and to miss you, | |
| When again the daylight glows | |
| Is better far than to meet you, | 5 |
| And clasping hand to hand. | |
| While others, calmly greet you,— | |
| They do not understand. | |
| I could wish to seek you, only | |
| When you feel a hungry need— | 10 |
| When the hours of night are lonely | |
| And the longing heart-strings bleed. | |
| I would wish to hold you near me, | |
| To bless you and call you fair, | |
| ’Til your senses ceased to fear me | 15 |
| And you—not I—would dare. | |
| I could wish to read your dreaming | |
| And always read aright, | |
| ’Til the clouds and doubts of seeming, | |
| In a hurried host, took flight. | 20 |
| I could wish to ask no question, | |
| But to know, each day and hour, | |
| Each subtle, sweet suggestion; | |
| Each bud that bursts to flower. | |
| I could wish to bring you, ever, | 25 |
| The Heaven-born gift of choice, | |
| I could wish to jar you, never, | |
| With thoughts I dare not voice. | |
| And yet—I could wish to hold you | |
| In a long, wild, mad embrace, | 30 |
| ’Til the tale of love was told you, | |
| With the love-light on your face. | |
| I could love you in storm and lightning, | |
| Your heart athrill with fear, | |
| Your wet limbs round me tight’ning, | 35 |
| And oh! so near! so near! | |
| I could love you in the morning, | |
| When the sun climbs up the sky, | |
| Or, the stars of midnight scorning, | |
| Within your round arms—die. | 40 |
| For the depth and breadth of passion, | |
| Is to love with a royal will; | |
| Who loveth in idle fashion, | |
| The cup of joy will spill. | |
| Then come, if you so must will it, | 45 |
| Away to the realms of space, | |
| And feed the fire of my desire, | |
| With the glory in your face. | |