books icons and headers

“I loved you before I was born. It doesn’t make sense, I know. I saw your eyes before I had eyes to see. And I’ve lived longing for your every look ever since. That longing entered time as this body. And the longing grew as this body waxed. And the longing grows as this body wanes. That longing will outlive this body. I loved you before I was born. It makes no sense, I know. Long before eternity, I caught a glimpse of your neck and shoulders, your ankles and toes. And I’ve been lonely for you from that instant. That loneliness appeared on earth as this body. And my share of time has been nothing but your name outrunning my ever saying it clearly. Your face fleeing my ever kissing it firmly once on the mouth. In longing, I am most myself, rapt, my lamp mortal, my light hidden and singing. I give you my blank heart. Please write on it what you wish.”

“ἀστέρων πάντων ὀ κάλλιστος - …the loveliest of all stars…”

“And Her soul! Her soul is consumed by this longing!”

“…you are, I think, an evening star, of all the stars, the fairest…”

“Ἄστερες μὲν ἀμφὶ κάλαν σελάνναν ἂψ ἀπυκρύπτοισι φάεννον εἶδος, ὄπποτα πλήθοισα μάλιστα λάμπῃ γᾶν [ἐπὶ πᾶσαν] … ἀργυρία … - Stars around the lovely moon conceal their shining shape again whenever she, waxing fullest with light [upon the whole] earth …silver…”

“the one with violets in her lap ]mostly ]goes astray”

“But I love delicacy and this to me— the brilliance and beauty of the sun—desire has allotted.”