The Black Christ & Other Poems/Tongue-tied
Tongue-tied
YOU ask me why I love her, and you pause
Magnanimous, that I may make reply
Handing you deftly parceled every cause,
Saying with confidence, "Lo, this is why."
But I am mute as if I had no tongue,
Without reason as if I had no mind,
This song the most familiar ever sung,
Is lost to me like a leaf caught in the wind.
Magnanimous, that I may make reply
Handing you deftly parceled every cause,
Saying with confidence, "Lo, this is why."
But I am mute as if I had no tongue,
Without reason as if I had no mind,
This song the most familiar ever sung,
Is lost to me like a leaf caught in the wind.
And so my tongue is tied; and so you smile
Not knowing, little lover that you are,
(Prattling, "'Twill wear, 'twill last so long a while")
The poet is compelled to love his star,
Not knowing he could never tell you why
Though silence makes inadequate reply.
Not knowing, little lover that you are,
(Prattling, "'Twill wear, 'twill last so long a while")
The poet is compelled to love his star,
Not knowing he could never tell you why
Though silence makes inadequate reply.