Your Portrait

You have sent me your elegant portrait Saying it will fill the void in my life Not realizing that it will further frustrate And cut my heart like a blade of knife I tried to talk to it, it wouldn’t answer I tried to kiss it; its lips were cold like ice Ignoring my frailty and heart’s seeded cancer Its locks unfurl nor roses of cheeks entice Your colors it wears nor ravishing perfume It neither cheers nor languishing heart console My love! Was it so difficult to presume! An image only wasn’t my craving’s goal Can an image respond to an earnest embrace? Can it feel ones fondness, ones caress My kisses don’t change the color of face On my chest it doesn’t spread its tress Its eager fingers do not comb my hair It doesn’t seek the coziness of my arms It comforts my anguish nor my despair It doesn’t heal my afflictions; it only harms I am craving for you, my love, not an image Bird of life may seek freedom from body’s cage