280 and 281

A Great Old Chain bore many chains, whose strands

descended ever downwards at degrees,

as many links there fused as there are sands

on any of the strands of all the seas.

Some chains continued downward, and still do,

and still an infinite amount do not.

Those ones whose downward progeny withdrew

just dangle there, while rust attempts to rot.

But these I find impressive, more than those

who are so fastened to the ones below.

The lonely ones support whatever grows,

while those, the fused, know only who they know.

To these, the last of links from long ago,

rejoice in what you bring us, even so.

~~~

I’ll not compare you with the sunny sky,

nor with the starlit heaven of the night.

I’ll not insult you so with such a lie,

and say yours is some superhuman light.

You are what people are, and that is good.

I would not love you more were it not so.

A fire’s kept in bounds, as well it should,

not swallowing the house with its hot glow.

Your hand fits perfectly inside of mine.

No more or less would bring to me such bliss.

I shall not want for more--I shall not pine

for something more than perfect such as this.

For I can hold just one handful of love,

and you bring with you just enough thereof.