Courtly love.

 You come to me
And kneel
In my silken sheets
How brazen you are
As your hand touches my cheek

You think that I am sleeping
As your secrets in the darkness pour
And to think… I know your heart
But I only love you more.

Many nights you’ve knelt beside me
As if in fervent prayer
And poured confessions
Until they filled the air.

And how I longed to draw you
To my breast with tender ease
And kiss the gentle innocence
That brings you
To kneel beside me….

But though I love you more
Your heart I would only break
For I’m promised to another…
A promise I can’t brake

So come little knight,
Still so young an unafraid
And whisper secrets
And kiss my sleeping face…

Ah, that I were not a lady
Of porclian skin
And fingers gloved
Taught to have a flitting
Heart, as timid as a dove…

But your whispered proclamations
Stir a fire in my breast
And now I wait for thee
Though I know it isn’t best

Many times while you were speaking
I felt tears come to my eyes
Covered by the darkness
How quietly I cried
For I could never love you
Nor, could I look upon your face

Never gentle lover, could I cause you
Such shame…
And yet while you are speaking resting your
Cheek upon my hand
How I wish you’d kiss me

And like aurora, sleeping beauty I should arise
Forget my proper place, and look into your eyes…
How I should touch your calloused palm
And touch your sun tanned cheek
And be your little milkmaid a country lass in spring

But it could never be love, for others would have our heads
So I lay in faux repose while you kneel beside my bed.