Gwendolyn B. Bennet (1902-1981)
Sonnets

I. "He came in silvern armour, trimmed with black"
II. "Some things are very dear to me"

Sonnets

He came in silvern armour, trimmed with black--

A lover come from legends long ago--

With silver spurs and silken plumes a-blow,

And flashing sword caught fast and buckled back

In a carven sheath of Tamarack.

He came with footsteps beautifully slow,

And spoke in voice meticulously low.

He came and Romance followed in his track . .

I did not ask his name--I thought him Love;

I did not care to see his hidden face.

All life seemed born in my intaken breath;

All thought seemed flown like some forgotten dove.

He bent to kiss and raised his visor's lace . . .

All eager-lipped I kissed the mouth of Death.

Some things are very dear to me--

Such things as flowers bathed by rain

Or patterns traced upon the sea

Or crocuses where snow has lain . . .

The iridescence of a gem,

The moon's cool opalescent light,

Azaleas and the scent of them,

And honeysuckles in the night.

And many sounds are also dear--

Like winds that sing among the trees

Or crickets calling from the weir

Or Negroes humming melodies.

But dearer far than all surmise

Are sudden tear-drops in your eyes.