Half Veiled



Beauty is more lovely

half-veiled.
Dawn through sea-mizzle

at the cliff’s edge.
Let this golden mystery be
known by one whose eyes

have been polished by waiting.

To cocoon your revelation
is the way of wings.
Astonishing colors begin
with moonlight in dew

on lilac leaves.
Discretion of a cloud
reflected on a forest pond,
both there, and not there.

The age of restraint, the age
of yearning will return
through our gaze, O lover,
sister, pilgrim friend,
as we temper blind beams
of wanting into the rainbow
of a subtler body,
through a chiaroscuro
of prudence and delight.
Not for mere discipline,
but a more psalterium flavor,
let there be a renaissance of
modesty, to fashion our fierce
eternal fire into this dulcet
earth-moment, when I gaze

into the bright darkness
of your eyes.



Painting by William Bouguereau

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