Lancelot's Lament Poem by Jeffrey Stultz

Torture,
to be so near,
my tongue held fast by fear.
Fearful,
that my wishful eyes
see only what my heart desires.
Desires
most to speak the words,
Words which God and King forbid,
Forbid fire to burn,
or rain to fall,
Forbid the birds to sing or call.
Forbid my eyes, and blind I'll be,
Forbid my tongue and
dumb I'll be;
Forbid my heart, to cherish thee,
The selfsame hour:
extinguish me.

aka Taliesin Flynn
1995