“My lips, two blushing pilgrims, ready stand
to smooth your rough touch with a tender kiss, ”
said Romeo, when somewhat underhand
he took the first step towards boyish bliss.
“But saints have hands that pilgrims’ hands do touch,
and holy palmers kiss with palm to palm, ”
said Juliet, whose thoughts were very much
impervious to Romeo’s great charm.
“But now, dear saint, ” he said to her, “let lips
do what hands do.” And so around the sun
that casts its shadow, causing moon’s eclipse,
she orbited and soon would be undone,
for once four blushing pilgrims had united
until the daybreak they remained benighted.
Inspired by the sonnet in “Romeo And Juliet, ” Act V, Scene V.
ROMEO
If I profane with my unworthiest hand
This holy shrine, the gentle fine is this:
My lips, two blushing pilgrims, ready stand
To smooth that rough touch with a tender kiss.
JULIET
Good pilgrim, you do wrong your hand too much,
Which mannerly devotion shows in this;
For saints have hands that pilgrims' hands do touch,
And palm to palm is holy palmers' kiss.
ROMEO
Have not saints lips, and holy palmers too?
JULIET
Ay, pilgrim, lips that they must use in prayer.
ROMEO
O, then, dear saint, let lips do what hands do;
They pray, grant thou, lest faith turn to despair.
JULIET
Saints do not move, though grant for prayers' sake.
ROMEO
Then move not, while my prayer's effect I take.
2/26/06
gershon hepner
http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/two-blushing-pilgrims/
