Valentine by Elinor Wylie
Too high, too high to pluck My heart shall swing. A fruit no bee shall suck, No wasp shall sting.
If on some night of cold It falls to ground In apple-leaves of gold I'll wrap it round.
And I shall seal it up With spice and salt, In a carven silver cup, In a deep vault.
Before my eyes are blind And my lips mute, I must eat core and rind Of that same fruit.
Before my heart is dust By the end of all, Eat it I must, I must Were it bitter gall.
But I shall keep it sweet By some strange art; Wild honey I shall eat When I eat my heart.
O honey cool and chaste As clover's breath! Sweet Heaven I shall taste Before my death.
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