Star Bright

Star Bright

In fiery firmament, self sated stars,
late Venus rises below yon moon,
shines forth upon lo dwindling Mars,
t'is cupped to catch this lovers swoon;
Where wanton need breaks through this peace,
and sighs for psyches feathered search,
vexatious greed does find release,
in cupids hidden flighted lurch.
Why hidden loves must suffer so,
in twilight realms so near to thee,
a mothers love, this friendly foe,
remorseless trials, endlessly;
Yet lo, this supple spell unfolds,
and swims this endless night,
for lovers found in times untold,
are rested from their flight;
And swift the arrows make their mark,
as songs do echo out,
sweet psyche searching in the dark,
cries tears, forlorn in doubt;
So heaven open up your doors,
flee rancour and sad fright;
doth make these two doved winged amours,
together one Star Bright.

© Richard Michael Parker 2009

London skyline, 6pm, 27th February, 2009. Thoughts upon a friend, in remembrance of another, in reply to a third.


Bright Star

Bright star! would I were steadfast as thou art—
Not in lone splendour hung aloft the night,
And watching, with eternal lids apart,
Like Nature’s patient sleepless Eremite,
The moving waters at their priestlike task
Of pure ablution round earth’s human shores,
Or gazing on the new soft fallen mask
Of snow upon the mountains and the moors—
No—yet still steadfast, still unchangeable,
Pillow’d upon my fair love’s ripening breast,
To feel for ever its soft fall and swell,
Awake for ever in a sweet unrest,
Still, still to hear her tender-taken breath,
And so live ever—or else swoon to death.

John Keats1795 – 1821

Written by Keats in Joseph Severn's copy of The Poetical Works of William Shakespeare opposite the poem 'A Lover's Complaint'