The River Divine
~2006
Karl Lilje
for Diane

My Lady's Eyes do speak entwined
A River's banks hath bled and dried
A Desert thirsts my Lady's shore
To breathe perhaps to grow once more

My Lady's breath doth blow the sails
Steering, whipping cat'o'tails
Hark! The dragon screams the night
Calling deckhands out to fight

Pray the dragon's eyes not met
Blind its eyes to thy regret
A million leagues to fight to you
A million words to listen to
Each word a pearl falling anew

My Lady's Eyes do tell a tale
Of flowing love to no avail
And flowing tears a river sailed
My Lady's virtues never hailed

My Lady's heart is cloaked and sore
A hundred battles lost or more
Five hundred doves I'll find for thee
Five hundred loves I'll bind for thee
A hundred wings to carry thee
All my patience, stimulation, and tlc