Oh, dearest Failing, how You do deserve me!
I nearly dared such arrogance as to look upon her with unflinching eye
And was lulled into the singe and sear of seeing her,
Much as the nomad, seeking the time of day, is crazed
As he gazes at the Sun a moment too long.
I would have taken her in completely
And felt her as much to all my length,
But to find the secret of filling my desire for her
I would be pressed to defy You and the Fates –
To entrap the tendrils that hold together the Firmament –
To eavesdrop upon the very deepest thoughts of God.
And upon such transcendent notice
I would have surely garnered the jealousy of Heaven,
Only to be snapped up and cast down from this perfectly flawed place
My penalty, as a mere mortal having tasted such exquisite grace.
As if to mock me, she once again granted me the opportunity
With her eyes lightly closed – to touch her lips, lightly parted.
I would have dared, but You conspired with immortal Cowardice
To confound me – and I was thwarted.
If I am to never know her,
But am sentenced to live and die in the attempt -
What piety does this world hold?
Would I be the beast that I no longer long to be?
And, unanswered, I remain here – alone – amongst the unblessed base
Of such desires that has confined me so unhappily to this place.
Oh, sweet Failing, how You do preserve me!
Forever your Apocryphal Apostle, I await the morning Sun.
In that final dark moment, I glimpse a final vision of her.
Evening’s final passing glance, the Morning star is chased away.
I close my eyes, and embrace in darkness
That which I shall never know in light of day.
Credo
Oh, dearest Failing, how You do deserve me!
I nearly dared such arrogance as to look upon her with unflinching eye
And was lulled into the singe and sear of seeing her,
Much as the nomad, seeking the time of day, is crazed
As he gazes at the Sun a moment too long.
I would have taken her in completely
And felt her as much to all my length,
But to find the secret of filling my desire for her
I would be pressed to defy You and the Fates –
To entrap the tendrils that hold together the Firmament –
To eavesdrop upon the very deepest thoughts of God.
And upon such transcendent notice
I would have surely garnered the jealousy of Heaven,
Only to be snapped up and cast down from this perfectly flawed place
My penalty, as a mere mortal having tasted such exquisite grace.
As if to mock me, she once again granted me the opportunity
With her eyes lightly closed – to touch her lips, lightly parted.
I would have dared, but You conspired with immortal Cowardice
To confound me – and I was thwarted.
If I am to never know her,
But am sentenced to live and die in the attempt -
What piety does this world hold?
Would I be the beast that I no longer long to be?
And, unanswered, I remain here – alone – amongst the unblessed base
Of such desires that has confined me so unhappily to this place.
Oh, sweet Failing, how You do preserve me!
Forever your Apocryphal Apostle, I await the morning Sun.
In that final dark moment, I glimpse a final vision of her.
Evening’s final passing glance, the Morning star is chased away.
I close my eyes, and embrace in darkness
That which I shall never know in light of day.