Poem: “All That Love Asks” by Ella Wheeler Wilcox

Poems of Power

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American Literature – American Poetry – Ella Wheeler Wilcox – Poems by Ella Wheeler Wilcox – Poems of Power
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All That Love Asks

   “All that I ask,” says Love, “is just to stand
   And gaze, unchided, deep in thy dear eyes;
   For in their depths lies largest Paradise.
Yet, if perchance one pressure of thy hand
   Be granted me, then joy I thought complete
      Were still more sweet.

   “All that I ask,” says Love, “all that I ask,
   Is just thy hand-clasp. Could I brush thy cheek
   As zephyrs brush a rose leaf, words are weak
To tell the bliss in which my soul would bask.
   There is no language but would desecrate
      A joy so great.

   “All that I ask, is just one tender touch
   Of that soft cheek. Thy pulsing palm in mine,
   Thy dark eyes lifted in a trust divine,
And those curled lips that tempt me overmuch
   Turned where I may not seize the supreme bliss
      Of one mad kiss.

   “All that I ask,” says Love, “of life, of death,
   Or of high heaven itself, is just to stand,
   Glance melting into glance, hand twined in hand,
The while I drink the nectar of thy breath
   In one sweet kiss, but one, of all thy store,
      I ask no more.”

   “All that I ask”—nay, self-deceiving Love,
   Reverse thy phrase, so thus the words may fall,
   In place of “all I ask,” say, “I ask all,”
All that pertains to earth or soars above,
   All that thou wert, art, will be, body, soul,
      Love asks the whole,

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American Literature – American Poetry – Ella Wheeler Wilcox – Poems by Ella Wheeler Wilcox – Poems of Power

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All That Love Asks

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