I slipped out of the world,
To where death was found.
I went where dead souls curled,
Far beyond life�s bound.
In warmth and light and noise they played,
Quietly I was forgot.
In cold and dark and quiet I stayed,
And loudly complained my lot.
By another her lips were kissed,
Of remembrance she was bereft.
While here I stayed as yet unmissed,
In dark Tartarus I was left.
For I am Nemo the damned,
Forgotten across the land.
[2]
I had the world to share with you,
And you dashed it all away.
I had all time to spend with you,
Eternity�s ev�ry day.
I had the heavens to give to you,
And you stole every star.
I had the sun and moon for you,
Now you keep them where you are.
I gave my soul as slave to you,
And my body equally so.
I live in Hades without you,
Where only damned men go.
The humblest gift of my love,
You crushed within your cruel glove.
[3]
The beauty of each morning�s dawn,
Is paltry when compared to thine.
To you forever am I sworn,
For all of the years that are mine.
At noon all God�s wondrous works are seen,
Most wondrous of all is you.
They disappear in the dark�ning e�en,
But your beauty shines on through.
Even through the cold lonesome night,
When life is far and death is near,
Your beauty shines on ever bright,
A blessed haven from all fear.
I love you,
Pure and true.
[4]
Wouldst thou speak highly of the stars above?
Infinite diamonds in infinite shade?
Yet nothing are these compared to my love,
Brighter yet is she, finer is she made.
Thou art praising of the sun-dappled sea
And wind caress�d land?
Then surely my love is unknown to thee,
She all alone doth stand,
An unmatched zenith of beauty and grace.
The rose of all roses, the jewel of all jewels,
In all the world none match her matchless face.
My love has me caught, the fool of all fools.
Helen launched but a thousand ships,
Such power is in her fingertips.
[5]
My life is for thee, for thee to command,
Whether thou send it far or call it near,
My heart is held in the grip of thy hand,
Tighten it not I implore thee my dear.
Life is not life without thee, my sweet queen,
Such am I nothing, a sorrowful case.
In life�s long journey many things have I seen,
But thy soft eyes set in softer yet face
Are surely most wondrous of sights sighted.
They are more lovely than a ruby dawn,
And now I am in your service knighted,
As love�s humble vassal forever sworn.
So brightly do thy grace and beauty shine,
That there is no I, unless I am thine.
[6]
If she did leave me the world would not end.
The sun in the azure sky would remain,
The moon through the stars its way would still wend,
The seas would stay where they always have lain.
If she did leave me forests would still grow
And through them as before deer would still run.
In the fields the farmer still would seed sow,
And as usual the day�s work would be done.
If she did leave me no building would fall,
No great tear in the earth would then appear.
No devils would rise from their darkened hall,
To spread ev�rywhere pain, suff�ring and fear.
Only my tender heart would crack and break,
If she left me just I would feel the ache.
[7]
My heart�s love is like a pure white-winged dove.
Sure and swift and strong it flies, far anon,
Beyond human conception, far above.
It reaches the heavens and carries on.
My heart�s love is like the sea and the sky,
Limitless, infinite, ageless, deathless.
Far more than can be seen by human eye,
The unchecked force of it leaves me breathless.
My heart�s love is like a majestic tree.
Though by cold seasons of its beauty stripped,
Standing proud it remains for all to see,
Waiting to bloom and to leave winter�s crypt.
Though you burn the tree and shoot down the dove,
It will rise a phoenix, my ceaseless love.
[8]
Nothing finer yet was held in mortal gaze.
You seem a sweet seraph down from the sky,
Gracing the earth for but a very brief phase.
You�re a glimpse of heaven that I might spy
And be forever enthralled, forever
Enchanted, forever beguiled by you.
For you I�ll attempt any endeavour.
In this verse I try to give you your due
But mere words are wholly incapable
Of describing the beauty I have seen
In you. It�s soft and inescapable
Like that of a splendid heavenly queen.
You are peerless on earth and I expect
Even in heaven there�s none more perfect.
[9]
I give to you all the autumnal gold
That falls from the trees as winter comes on.
I give you silver from lakes clear and cold,
Which pearl and iv�ry swans sail upon.
I give you rubies from each rose�s bloom,
Red like your lips and like passionate fire.
I give you emeralds from peacock�s plume,
Evergreen like my love that will not tire.
I give you diamonds from each drop of dew
Sparkling upon the unspoilt morning grass.
I give you sapphires from the ocean blue,
Deep like my love it will forever last.
Nature�s great beauty to complement yours,
Which all these jaded others so obscures.