! To A Great Lady Poem by Michael Shepherd

I yearn to show you, praise you, to the world -
-and straightway hear you: 'Inappropriate...';
said with firm authority, and yet
said kindly, smiling, thoughtful; as if part
of some continued talk about the truth;

and as I, listening, look at you, I catch
in that sharp-seeing eye, the spark of joy;
and at the corners of your mouth, the twitch
of heavenly laughter at the comedy -
the serious humour - of our earthly wealth;
Shakespeare knew your sort: a golden girl
who brings to men and women their true self.

The more we loved the beauty of your mind,
the more that presence ever now we find