What Are These Humble Words Worth? (Refrain Stanza Sequence) Poem by Gert Strydom

(after Percy Bysshe Shelley)

I
At a time my tears flowed like a river
but never did our love completely sever
and for years I thought of you at the blue ocean,
recalled our times with sweet and great emotion
but thought you would be with me never,
yet knew a love like ours is something divine
and now again I want to call you mine,
where you are lovelier than ever
but never did our love completely sever,

II
and all pain has long ago been forgiven,
where to me you remain a blessing from high heaven,
where you are the loveliest woman on earth
but what are these humble words worth
if not a single kiss to me is freely given?
Still you do dwell near to the sea,
do bring tranquillity and you are all of life to me,
you do straighten my way when it's uneven,
where to me you remain a blessing from high heaven.

[Reference:"Love's Philosophy" by Percy Bysshe Shelley.]