1'3
6
A Bridge To The Past
SHE RESTED IN TH E DAMASCL'S
She rested in the Damascus
of her own making
A falcon peregrine and high
above the villagers:
watching them from the eye of an elm
Each by each they saw and loved her Each as their breast might allow
The first spoke: 110ve you Come to me and a hood of mildest doe I will give to you
She sighed: You do not love
You would only have me blind
The second spoke: I love you Come to me and a cage with ancient down I will give to you
She sighed: You do not love
You would see me as your prisoner
The third spoke: I love you Come to me and forever my boylit games I will give to you
She sighed: You do not love
You would by autumn grow weary
The fourth spoke: I love you Come to me and jesses with copper bells I will give to you
She sighed: You do not love
You would better seek an ornament
The fifth spoke: I love you Come to me and flesh from roundest quail I will give to you
She sighed: You do not love
You would wish to break my pride
The sixth began to leave lntrigued the falcon spoke to him: You say nothing and Why? He turned and lifted his voice: I am not sure that I love you for I would never have you come down