Valentine’s Day

My one requirement: that you stay with me.
I want to hear you, grumble as I may.
If you were deaf I’d need what you might say
If you were dumb I’d need what you might see.

If you were blind I’d want you in my sight
For you’re the sentry posted to my side:
We’re hardly half way through this lengthy ride
Remember we’re surrounded yet by night.

Your ‘let me lick my wounds’ is no excuse now.
Your ‘anywhere’ (not here) is no defense
There’ll be relief for you, but no release now.

You know whoever’s needed can’t go free
And you are needed urgently by me
I speak of me when us would make more sense.

Bertolt Brecht, Sonnet 19

2 Comments

  1. Brian February 15, 2014 at 2:59 am | #

    I would have preferred Poe’s ‘Helen’, replaced with references to Alan Dershowitz. (“Alan, thy beauty is to me…”)

  2. Escott February 16, 2014 at 9:53 am | #

    Brecht disables then captures the object of his love. Reminds me of guys who chain abducted women in basements. It’s all about them

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