Poems and Baudelaire Flowers/Consummation

by John Collings Squire

CONSUMMATION

On this cheek now, and now on this
Soft cheek that burns; now a mouth-kiss.
We are near to swoon as lips meet lips
In ecstasy of deep eclipse
Of breath. O worshipt spirit and flesh,
Let us inweave us in a mesh
Of twined limbs together pressed,
Thus, thus… Ah! closer, breast to breast;
Our hearts which feel each other’s beat
Thrill for a while with strange, complete
Knowledge of all eternity.


I kiss thee this once more, my sweet,
For to the earth each drowsy limb
Sinks, as the night grows pale, and dim
The stars, and dawn comes tremulous.
Should we not pride ourselves that we,
We two alone, have wrenched one whole
Deep hour from Fate, and mingled us
Soul and body, body and soul?