A VALENTINE

“Love is of all passions the strongest, for it attacks simultaneously the head, the heart and the senses.” - Lao Tzu

Magpie Tales must have been in Valentine Day mood when selecting this week’s prompt. A striking image by Christophe Gilbert, with several lines of subtext that I won’t go into. I will succumb to the Valentine mood and write of love.

Serenata

The pagan tribes of Araby revere the sun

The Saracens all to the moon pay homage.

The stars and winds in blackest Africa are adored

And I my love only your eyes do worship.

In times of strife all men the saints invoke

In hardship ev’ryone to gods does turn,

In tempests raging, sailors Christ recall

But I my love to you in my misfortune pray.

All slaves crave for their freedom sweet,

All prisoners to loose their fetters try,

All cagéd birds to escape their bars attempt,

And I, my love, to you myself enchain.

To war, searching for glory soldiers go,

To power king and noble all would sacrifice

To miser more than life the glint of gold is worth,

But I my love would for your smile expire.