Benedictus (Poem by Gilbert Parker)

Benedictus

By Gilbert Parker

You bless me, then you turn away your head — 

“Never again, dear. I have blessed you so,

My lips upon your lips; between must flow

The river — Oh the river!”  Thus you said.

The river — Oh the river, and the sun;

Stream that we may not cross, sun that is joy:

Flow as thou must; shine on in full employ — 

Shine through her eyes thou; let the river run.

O lady, to your liegeman speak.  You say:

“Dream no more dreams; yourself be as am I!”

Your hands clasped to your face, so shutting out the day.

An instant, then to me, your low good-bye — 

Good-night, good-bye; and then the social reign,

The lights, the songs, the flowers — and the pain.