Sonnet 16 Poem by doug bentley

when words will not you move
nor my heart persuade to unfortify,
but as stone your image proves
against words image must qualify,

when music, the speech of soul,
and poetry, the soul of speech,
by you will not my mind school
nor my soul new poetry teach,

when love, the cultivation of heart,
struck by your love to heart strings,
will not from you new poetry impart
what surety of trust does love bring?

departed, these words to you ascend:
so departed, will you new words send?