I found this among my teaching things today and had to share it both with you and my students. I think this came by way of Jill Hunt so thanks for helping me find the beautiful words.
To Be in Love
by Gwendolyn Brooks
To be in love
Is to touch with a lighter hand.
In yourself you stretch, you are well.
You look at things
Through his eyes.
A cardinal is red.
A sky is blue.
Suddenly you know he knows too.
He is not there but
You know you are tasting together
The winter, or a light spring weather.
His hand to take your hand is overmuch.
Too much to bear.
You cannot look in his eyes
Because your pulse must not say
What must not be said.
When he
Shuts a door-
Is not there_
Your arms are water.
And you are free
With a ghastly freedom.
You are the beautiful half
Of a golden hurt.
You remember and covet his mouth
To touch, to whisper on.
Oh when to declare
Is certain Death!
Oh when to apprize
Is to mesmerize,
To see fall down, the Column of Gold,
Into the commonest ash.
3 comments:
I've never heard this before, but it's very romantic. It's also fun because I'm reading Brooks' People of the Book right now. Happy first Valentine's Day as a married couple :)
Okay, I just realized you are talking about Gwendolyn Brooks, and I am talking about Geraldine Brooks. I'm an idiot. A very tired idiot.
Happy Valentine's Day, anyway!
Cool poem. I hope you guys had a fabulous V-day. Sorry I didn't get much of a chance to talk to you on Sunday! I appreciate you being there though! My favorite love quote right now is - "Love is the irresistible desire to be desired irresistibly." I have no idea who said it, but I like it.
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