Calling you now, not for your flesh I call,
Nor for the mad, long raptures of the night
And passion in its beauty and its might,
When the ecstatic bodies rise and fall.
I cannot feign: God knows I see it all—
The flaming senses, raving with delight,
The leopards, swift and terrible and white,
Within the loins that shudder as they crawl.
All that could I exultingly forego,
Could I but stand, one flash of time, and see
Your heavenly, entrancing face, and know
I stood most blest of all beneath the sun,
Hearing these words from your fond lips to me:
“I love, love you, and love no other one!”
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I started reading "In Extremis" and was impressed with the layers of images that were within its tight frame--so, decided to read other poems by Sterling. This poem has a scope worth dwelling on. There is something to be said about the quaint lines "I love" from the one person you have loved passionately, with your whole heart and soul. This poem captures that feeling so well. The image of the leopard is breath-taking as applied in the erotica of love. I love how this poem also goes beyond the physical and taps into the essense of true love. Oh, to know and love someone that can write like this! Be still my heart....!
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scrumptious !
This is very romantic indeed... The subtle erotica melds perfectly with the feelings of love expressed.
I like this poem a lot
Dee
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amazing
this is one of the best poems i have ever read. -
You are welcome. Sterling was an amazing poet. This site is excellent.
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Nick - thank you for picking up the error. You are quite right and as you see the poem has now been corrected.
Thanks for taking the time to bring this to our attention and to help maintain the quality of our Oldpoetry site.
Vonnie
Oldpoetry Team
The last line is a total consumation of the emotion within this poem. It's beautiful. -
The first line is actually "Calling you now..." and not "Falling for you now..."
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This could be the best love poem ever written
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that is soooooo sweeet.
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