Sleeping in Sunlight

To sleep in sunlight
        Out of time with
The diurnal cycle speaks
         Of nights spent in cool
Dark splendor spangled with
         Stars and quiet conversation.

To sleep in sunlight
        Out of time with pursuit
Of increase, or chasing gain speaks
        Of unmeasured wealth,
The world, and all the time to
        Deal with the troubles of the day
Bright peace, and health of heart, mind
        And hand, and quiet breathing.

To sleep in sunlight
        Out of time in dreams speaks
Of worlds that were, and are to come
         Far shores, blue and sunlit waters
Clear depths, and sand.  Smooth skin,
         Strength regained, and you, smiling
Again.  Love gradual, and then all once.

A Lament on Summer

While the days were long
    And summer glowed and let us out
My love for you was bright
    And simple.  An eternity in sunlight
Dappled shade, warm breezes, water.
    It was not to end, as all lovers
Know, it was to be as eternal as God.
    As Heaven and Angels.

But woe to us, we live in time, and
    Are snatched away by shortness,
Distance, sickness, and all manner of distress.
    And so all I have are tears in a bottle
Somewhere in the hand of Love.
    Freckles; summer skin, long hair,
And cut-grass smell.  Deep pools, dark
    Depths in which you float, suspended.
And green avocados, whole brown bread,
    And after sunset over the Shenandoah,
Paper lanterns in the sky.

O Love, lose not, the moments of my grace
    When once I loved, was young,
And it was summer in my little world
    And all Your gifts spoke of forever.