Ophelia Drowning

As swiftly as the young girls prance
Surely as the willow leaves
Eyes look from the glass' other side
Past the mirror of the stream.

Sparkling summer stars! you flower
Shy through twilight's creeping blush
Teach me! I wish to betwitch this witching hour
My beloved is no more, gone like the tide
He lies secret as a smoldering fuse,
Or tears wept at a dead man's bower.
Willow willow hold his beir for
Sweet robins to witness a grave, bright flower.
His face locked in guilt girds my eyes
Above me, above water, wreaths mourning his power.

As swiftly as the young girls prance,
Surely as the willow leaves
Eyes look from the glass' other side
Past the mirror of the stream.

Father's face glints on a virile sword
Fight my favor, you both! And kill my faith.
His ears sank with his love's innocent word
Into the rolling mortal waves
Of earth and grass, growing strong as memory.
I face heaven and Father's soul over
Water-- hard as beloved words, cold as an embrace.
Remembered numbly, blunted doubt over
The fingers of my sight or leaf-bound hands.
Thick is their sense, and silenced their implore.

As swiftly as the young girls prance,
Surely as the willow leaves
Eyes look from the glass' other side
Past the mirror of the stream.

Night now in a moment, almost gone
Twilight's muted colors closing in
Turn an eye blind to flowers that mourn
My faith, love, they hang-- just out of reach,
Like young woman's hair willow willow hangs lorn.
Petals are crisp as ash; too late to mourn.
So this is Death! the sight everlasting
Willow tree hanging tree, a lamb is born
Back into the water's embrace revealed
I am the memory in all, and only water hears me.

As swiftly as the young girls prance
Surely as the willow leaves
Eyes look from the glass' other side
Past the mirror of the stream.

-End