Lay your head back; and now, kiss me again! Kneel there, and do not kiss me; let me hold Your cheeks between my hands; your cheeks are cold, And all your chin tightens, as if with pain, And your eyes close upon the ecstasy, Like one who dies in the agony of peace. So I have seen the face of Beatrice, In pictures, dead, and in a memory Seeing the face of Dante out of heaven. O, out of heaven, when for my sake you lean, Till not a breath of the world may come between Our lips that are our souls, and all the seven Delighted heavens lean down with you, to bless The sacrament of joy, then, with such eyes, Closed on so still a new-born Paradise, You endure the martyrdom of happiness. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THE FLAMING CIRCLE by LOUIS UNTERMEYER THE MARYLAND BATTALION [AUGUST 27, 1776] by JOHN WILLIAMSON PALMER THE WALKER OF THE SNOW by CHARLES DAWSON SHANLY HELEN AND THETIS by ALCAEUS OF MYTILENE MIRACLE by LIBERTY HYDE BAILEY THE FOUR ZOAS: NIGHTS THE THIRD AND FOURTH by WILLIAM BLAKE |