I was a child beneath her touch,–a man

When breast to breast we clung, even I and she,–

A spirit when her spirit looked through me,–

A god when all our life-breath met to fan

Our life-blood, till love’s emulous ardours ran,

Fire within fire, desire in deity.

(Dante Gabriel Rossetti, 1828 – 1882)

John Lentell

2nd November, 1969