vesper

θές με ὡς σφραγῖδα ἐπὶ τὴν καρδίαν σου, 
ὡς σφραγῖδα ἐπὶ τὸν βραχίονά σου· 

ὅτι κραταιὰ ὡς θάνατος ἀγάπη, σκληρὸς ὡς ᾅδης ζῆλος· 

περίπτερα αὐτῆς περίπτερα πυρός, φλόγες αὐτῆς· 

 ὕδωρ πολὺ οὐ δυνήσεται σβέσαι τὴν ἀγάπην,
 καὶ ποταμοὶ οὐ συγκλύσουσιν αὐτήν

Άσμα ασμάτων

since i believe i know the language of your eyes
which travel in faraway seas
which change color
like the day
your eyes which daybreak and sunset
you must forgive these tears which exit when you exit
for they are warm as your hands
and travel on my face as your fingers
for like your hands and fingers they let me know that
i am somehow here now
and indeed you must even forgive this
obscurity that descends upon me
when you leave for i understand now
that life really is what it used to be
and yet with your hand in mine
i walk through it with stronger feet
touch it with a touch more affectionate and
when i see it slip
away from me like it always has
i let go softly
and this is my newfound gentleness
my new face
older but in a way i believe embellished
by such gems as
courage
and the hope
that one day even this great darkness
will yield to us.