Love

Our myrtle is in flower

by Michael Field 1846–1914 (Bradley) and 1862–1913 (Cooper)

From Underneath the Bough (1898)

Love

Our myrtle is in flower;
Behold Love's power!
The glorious stamens' crowded force unfurled,
Cirque beyond cirque
At breathing, bee-like, and harmonious work;
The rose-patched petals backward curled,
Falling away
To let fecundity have perfect play.

O flower, dear to the eyes
Of Aphrodite, rise
As she at once to bare, audacious bliss;
And bid us near
Your prodigal, delicious hemisphere.
Where thousand kisses breed the kiss
That fills the room
With languor of an acid, dark perfume!

✦ ✦ ✦

The Third Book of Songs

MLA

Field, Michael. “Our myrtle is in flower.” Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/field_m/87/.

Chicago

Field, Michael. “Our myrtle is in flower.” Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/field_m/87/.

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