"To None, To All" by Giovanni Dania

To None, To All

As Time, the thief of lovely flesh, my dear,
I spare no effort to destroy thy shape.
Come close, my love, and give a courteous ear
As I describe my darkest dreams of rape:

That Time, the thief of lovely flesh, could sink
To mortal thoughts is nothing new to see.
Athirst for thee I am, so I must drink-
And drink to set the arid body free,

To die the millionth death for thee, my love,
An undertaking long- too long!- ignor'd;
Now sing, thou Raven, sing, thou rain-drench'd dove,
For, love, by God, I shall invade thy fjord,

For Time, the thief of lovely flesh, prevails
O'er females, 'though my skin may be of scales.

February 14, 1994