Page:Poems and ballads (IA poemsballads00swinrich).pdf/193

Sin sweet beyond forgiving
And brief beyond regret:
To laugh and love together
And weave with foam and feather
And wind and words the tether
Our memories play with yet.

Ah, one thing worth beginning,
One thread in life worth spinning,
Ah sweet, one thing worth sinning
With all the whole soul's will;
To lull you till one stilled you,
To kiss you till one killed you,
To feed you till one filled you,
Sweet lips, if love could fill;

To hunt sweet love and lose him
Between white arm and bosom,
Between the bud and blossom,
Between your throat and chin;
To say of shame—what is it?
Or virtue—we can miss it;
Of sin—we can but kiss it,
And it's no longer sin;

To feel the strong soul, stricken
Through fleshly pulses, quicken
Beneath swift sighs that thicken,
Soft hands and lips that smite;