Kissing the night

Kissing the night good night with this lovely poem by Louise Labe. This is from NYRB poets collection I'm currently reading.

Copyright A Home maker's Utopia

Kiss me, rekiss me, & kiss me again:

Give me one of your most delicious kisses,

A kiss in excess of my fondest wishes:

I’ll repay you four, more scalding than you spend.

You complain? Well, let me ease your pain

By giving you ten more honeyed kisses.

And as kiss with kiss so happily mixes,

Let’s ease back into our shared joy again.

Then a double life to each shall ensue.

Each shall live: you in me, & me in you.

Love, something crazy comes to mind:

I can’t bear living on my best behavior,

And there’s no joy I could truly savor,

Unless aroused to leave myself behind.

 --- Love Sonnets & Elegies by Louise Labé