Postlude by William Carlos Williams

Postlude

Now that I have cooled to you

Let there be gold of tarnished masonry,

Temples soothed by the sun to ruin   

That sleep utterly.

Give me hand for the dances,            

Ripples at Philae, in and out,         

And lips, my Lesbian,         

Wall flowers that once were flame.         

Your hair is my Carthage         

And my arms the bow,         

And our words arrows         

To shoot the stars         

Who from that misty sea         

Swarm to destroy us.         

But you there beside me—         

Oh how shall I defy you,         

Who wound me in the night         

With breasts shining         

Like Venus and like Mars?         

The night that is shouting Jason         

When the loud eaves rattle         

As with waves above me         

Blue at the prow of my desire.