And so, dark lady, this is given thee
(I use “thee,” the ancient word for love,
the closer way to say “you,” hand in glove:
bland, loving pronoun “you” now claims to be) —

To thee (then), all I have respecting me
I offer thee, while still respecting of
my broken soul that I would set above,
my spirit armored, still, against cold sea;

I’m foolish, dear, to worry over things
but do protect myself against the stormed
and frozen heart-string now that warmly sings
the happiness I have from thee; new-formed
heart’s way, surprising. calms my fears from years.

Rejected pains let go as thy love nears.