Love Past Utterance

I am a painter, and I love you so
I cannot paint your face for very love.
My heart is like a sea that tempests move,
Wherein no ship its certain path may know;
I can but gaze upon you till you grow
Lonely and distant as the skies above:
How then to man shall I my worship prove,
And unto coming worlds your beauty show?

I am a poet; but my love is such
I cannot tell the marvel of your voice,
Or show the laugh that thrills me like a kiss;
The very recollection of your touch
O'ercomes me like a sudden tide of joys,
And my heart gasps for breath 'twixt waves of bliss.