Serenade

Djuna Barnes

Three paces down the shore, low sounds the lute,

The better that my longing you may know;

I’m not asking you to come,

But—can’t you go?
.
Three words, “I love you,” and the whole is said—

The greatness of it throbs from sun to sun;

I’m not asking you to walk,

But—can’t you run?
.
Three paces in the moonlight’s glow I stand,

And here within the twilight beats my heart.

I’m not asking you to finish,

But—to start.