All That Love Asks

    "All that I ask," says Love, "is just to stand
    And gaze, unchided, deep in thy dear eyes;
    For in their depths lies largest Paradise.
Yet, if perchance one pressure of thy hand
    Be granted me, then joy I thought complete
    Were still more sweet.

    "All that I ask," says Love, "all that I ask,
    Is just thy hand-clasp.    Could I brush thy cheek
    As zephyrs brush a rose leaf, words are weak
To tell the bliss in which my soul would bask.
    There is no language but would desecrate
    A joy so great.

    "All that I ask, is just one tender touch
    Of that soft cheek.    Thy pulsing palm in mine,
    Thy dark eyes lifted in a trust divine,
And those curled lips that tempt me overmuch
    Turned where I may not seize the supreme bliss
    Of one mad kiss.

    "All that I ask," says Love, "of life, of death,
    Or of high heaven itself, is just to stand,
    Glance melting into glance, hand twined in hand,
The while I drink the nectar of thy breath
    In one sweet kiss, but one, of all thy store,
    I ask no more."

    "All that I ask" - nay, self-deceiving Love,
    Reverse thy phrase, so thus the words may fall,
    In place of "all I ask," say, "I ask all,"
All that pertains to earth or soars above,
    All that thou wert, art, will be, body, soul,
    Love asks the whole,