Explore "The First and Last" by Ameen Rihani on Textopian. Read with annotations and highlights.
O kiss me now; the end is near / The bright beginning; kiss me, dear.
I would not that thou shouldst one day / In bitter thought remembering say: / "When in the high tide of our bliss / Upon these lips I slew the kiss / That should have lived. " / The kiss I fear -- / The poison, ah, the lie, my dear.
Fear not; O kiss me whilst I can't / Refuse; am I to-morrow thine?
Wilt thou be near me when I pant?
I shall not go; thou wilt not pine.
Sweet thoughts! -- Alas, the first, the last!
Nay, nay! I cling to thee: the past / Is dying in the lap of night / In which our star is shining bright.
The fingers in the shadow, there!
What are they weaving? Look, a shroud!
Come, purse thy lips; do not despair; / Take hold my hand and speak aloud.
No, no! For whom that shroud, for whom?
Not for our love -- not for our joy?
Then seal thou with thy lips my doom, / Ay, with a kiss this life destroy!