Love in Winter

Nora Hopper Chesson

1871 to 1906

Poem Image

My love is over you and under you; 
A moonbeam o'er your head to make your way 
Lovely as well as light: beneath your feet 
Thyme that for all your bruising smells more sweet, 
And a vague breath of wallflowers in the dew. 
Come to me when you're weary, and I'll rest you 
Warm in my arms and quiet on my bosom. 
There shall you find against the cares that test you,
Your borage-blossom — 
Borage for courage in the rainy day. 

Since you have given me orange - flowers for wearing, 
I'll find you other flowers for work and leisure: 
Lavender grave and gray,
Green spikes of southernwood that overbearing 
Winter can spoil not of its wholesome spice — 
And from remembered roses, beyond price, 
I'll wring out store of attar for your pleasure. 

These flowers for your hands, my very Dearest; 
This attar for your feet keeping step with mine. 
But for your breast, to lie and love you, nearest 
Your heart that loves me, not a flower for sign 
Of love fulfilled, but this black head of mine.