In Our Feasts, We Both Drank Lover's Wine

In Our Feasts, We Both Drank Lover's Wine, Second poets tribute series, third poet Gerard Manley Hopkins Blood that entices with its red-glow appeal Its bright warmth into a wanton soul seeks She that drove passion, ate my youthful zeal Relishing that my words, were soft and meek! Yet I, a victim lost and thus spellbound Wore blinded eyes and heard no chains's rattles Nor heard black-laced music's deep, darkest sound Hid in imprison heart, raging battles! There in nightmarish glee, her pleasures sought She her tortures relished and thus she sang Lover, thy soul my back-heart has now bought From misery, my deepest desires sprang! Yet I, in romantic delusion's maze Saw only her bright-cast angelic wings While pleading for more in a lustful haze Heard I, paradise calls, dark sirens sing! Hot blood flowed through my sacrificial veins Sensual lips kissed my hot-desires rose Only Love's blindness, can such lust explain Passions did leap, seeing her naked pose! Her romantic eyes shown to me as pearls And her smile, a beautiful angel's face Both causing me to forget other girls In dark state, all reality replace! In our feasts, we both drank lover's sweet wine she said, "share we sweet wines of divine Gods" Saw not, hers was blood-red, black as night mine As did her touch, lustful spirit so prod! Winter soon came, with its dark gloom and cold Yet from first snows revealing lights did shine Was then I saw, a monster's face so old And knew on my flesh, it did with gusto dine! Seeking help, to break her accursed spell Sought I, dedicated priest to help give That day, my story I did to him tell Begged him to free me so I could live! His true words, they woke a sad, dying soul Open eyes, this dark world begin to see It seeks to destroy, early death its goal Using its, dark she-demons such as she! By newfound faith, command it to depart Order it back to its hellish dark pits Say with faith, "I your black-curse tear apart" To your realm go, as so your kind befits! In a flash, sun again its bright rays sent Blinded eyes could now reality see Release came as dark lusts, I did repent As divine forgiveness had set me free! That joyful night, yellow moon again rose For the first time, in many darkened years In its light, a sweeter path I then chose On my knees, I gave thanks with falling tears! Robert J. Lindley, Rhyme, ( O' Darkness, Within Thy Black Curse I Was Once Imprisoned ) Second poets tribute series, third poet Gerard Manley Hopkins