THE LOVER*

Solveig von Schoultz

My eyes want to kiss your face.
I have no power over my eyes.
They just want to kiss your face.
I flow towards you out of my eyes,
a fine heat settles around your shoulders,
it slowly dissolves your contours
and I am with you, your mouth
and everything around you--
I have no power over my eyes.

I sit with my hands in my lap,
I shan't touch you and I'll never speak.
But my eyes kiss your face,
I rise out of myself and no-one can stop me,
I flow out and I'm invisible,
I cannot stop this unfathonable flowing,
this dazzle that knows neither end nor beginning--
but when you at last turn your eyes towards me,
your unaware, questioning, stranger's eyes,
I sink myself back into my hands
and take up my place again under my eyelids.

*to listen to Kent’s rendition of this poem, click here

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