The Birds of Heaven

I gaze upon thee—

my tenderest, my sweet—

my eyes alight with heaven’s fire

my heart hot with one desire—

the radiant heights

the searchless depths

the dark-hidden chambers

the soft and secret flowers

of thy soul to know

we are cast upon the burning shore

of a lush and fragrant paradise

its peaks beyond our aching reach—

the waters, salty, churning

lap and lash the longing sands

and break upon the bitter rocks

with a constant rushing beat—

we thirst and taste

we taste and thirst—

our faces and fingers aflame

at the sudden sight and testing touch—

I gaze upon thee—

my tenderest, my sweet—

bare before my eager eyes—

as you belong to the universe

so I belong to you

and you to me—

my lovely trembling blossom—

all that is in you

is all I yearn to see

above our heads the nova bursts

catch its falling embers if we may—

our ardor lifts and lights us

to spheres of bliss above

where our souls shall soar and sing

like the birds of heaven

like all the stars of love

Steven Holland

September 13, 2013