Why dost thou stand in the way of lovers?
What great matter were it, for thee
to suffer us to be joined with our entire selves?
Or if that is too much,
that, at least, thou shouldst open,
for the exchange of kisses.
Nor are we ungrateful;
we confess that we are indebted to thee,
that a passage has been given
for our words to our loving ears.
Having said this much, in vain,
on our respective parts,
on each eve we say, “Farewell;”
and send our kisses from each other’s side
which cannot reach the other’s lips.
© 1970, Kenneth Koziol. All rights reserved.