Meandering through fir and oak,
Trailing long, ethereal cloak—
Phantom presence, silver-veiled,
Clouds the verdant hills, regaled!
Rose's blush, audacious, fades,
Muted into reverent shades—
Enigmatic soft blue-gray
Extinguishes the raucous jay!
With spurious shroud, loose, threadbare—
You feign a kiss on vapid dare;
Back again to upturned cheek—
Cool caress, covert mystique!
Conspiring whispers, faint and low,
Coax the crystalline gems to flow,
Drop by drop, from pine's embrace—
Translucent necklace will efface!
Evoking beneficent smile,
O ghostly wooer, your chords beguile
And echo in obedient vow
To ever-reverberating now!
Light upon light, reflective glare,
Illuminates the focused stare;
Veil, that falls into oblivion,
Blurs the sight but spurs the vision!
In densest fog, soft fingers trace
Filigreed diaphanous lace,
Probing holes of tenuous doubt,
To silk-smooth skin, firm, devout!
Foamy white, the sparkling wine,
Sweetest draught—first yours, then mine—
Effervescent cup of grace,
Satiates the trysting-place!
Full scent of thyme, musky leaves—
Ancient vapor soon retrieves—
To saturate and penetrate
The mystic bond inviolate!
Then sun-rays bright filter through,
Which veiled illusion must eschew;
Ignited in a moment's pause—
Gone! the elusive cloak of gauze.
– Jennifer van Westrum