Loving the Dust

This re-dug region of uncovered earth
that seems a garden where we have lain
is no prison that can hold us separate
from each other; nor can skill or craft
with wood, nor steel, nor iron conquer;
war and famine are but pleasures
with you here beside me, darling.
Against a silky pillow, soft as petals,
perfumed scents of roses, lilacs, lily
rise. As a seed desires sunlight, from
a darkness hidden in me, love long kept
fertile, sown by glances cast my way,
grows toward heaven spread with bright
and gaudy sparks or spirals, stars that
struggle, though they fail, to outshine
our love aspiring to forever, to become
eternal, last beyond this mortal coil
(Morning sunrise sadly falters to outdo
the warmth of love ascending into skies
too fixed to hold you). I shall protect
you with my arms around you from harm
by heaven storm or worldly worm. I will
kiss you, keep you safe from all eternal
degradations: None shall know such firm
embrace. One certainty in circumstance,
one certainty in all calamities of life
exists: that all fates move toward death;
that I will love you without question
for all ages to all ages, love eternal,
and love undying, love strong beyond
the grip
of death.