Jew #6

Jewels too like ugly ducklings lose worth Comparing themselves to common things. Great Gems of noble birth, like stones of the earth By low self value make havoc of fate Pearls may think themselves scabs of old sores Young diamonds in the rough, carbons dull And corals black just some callus old pores As goose believed itself A DUCK. I full Of need, alone may prize, your value rich And set the price of your affection now. I call your bed a mine, and not a ditch And make my heart's loud claim to you a vow That upon my breast will thy place be found For because of you joy to me abound ii Jew, you smile and show me ivory white Your eyes incandescent are all my pearls Your love's the diamond of my delight Your heart the beryl that in peaches curls And every time you speak to me, I hear Khan's nightingale singing solos of gold While silver light shines on ebon hair. You value more than armada's can hold. What task you have to keep so much secure And blame be none for all that flock your door For jewels tempt kings and common men too While yet above the base things evil men do. Take my heart as an armory of your grace Take my love as truth ... there's none more chaste. iii Love is not love until it touches fire Nor cannot know itself by mere desire For what alone is eternal the flame Endures, or absent of feelings speaks your name. Let none tell you mine is mere feelings then Or call it fraud when you go and once more Come. The tides forever with the moon blend Though distant from her orb walks this shore So love by constant gravity joins us As friends, and day and night test still our trust I rise or fall by thy nature's design And wither not at all in thy sweet sun I praise you as gift of Him most Divine Make me the prize from heaven you have won.