Main Street, and Other Poems

A Blue Valentine

(For Aline)

 Monsignore,
     Right Reverend Bishop Valentinus,
 Sometime of Interamna, which is called Ferni,
 Now of the delightful Court of Heaven,
 I respectfully salute you,
 I genuflect
 And I kiss your episcopal ring.

 It is not, Monsignore,
 The fragrant memory of your holy life,
 Nor that of your shining and joyous martyrdom,
 Which causes me now to address you.
 But since this is your august festival, Monsignore,
 It seems appropriate to me to state
 According to a venerable and agreeable custom,
 That I love a beautiful lady.
 Her eyes, Monsignore,
 Are so blue that they put lovely little blue reflections
 On everything that she looks at,
 Such as a wall
 Or the moon
 Or my heart.
 It is like the light coming through blue stained glass,
 Yet not quite like it,
 For the blueness is not transparent,
 Only translucent.
 Her soul's light shines through,
 But her soul cannot be seen.
 It is something elusive, whimsical, tender, wanton, infantile, wise
 And noble.
 She wears, Monsignore, a blue garment,
 Made in the manner of the Japanese.
 It is very blue —
 I think that her eyes have made it more blue,
 Sweetly staining it
 As the pressure of her body has graciously given it form.
 Loving her, Monsignore,
 I love all her attributes;
 But I believe
 That even if I did not love her
 I would love the blueness of her eyes,
 And her blue garment, made in the manner of the Japanese.

 Monsignore,
 I have never before troubled you with a request.
 The saints whose ears I chiefly worry with my pleas
   are the most exquisite and maternal Brigid,
 Gallant Saint Stephen, who puts fire in my blood,
 And your brother bishop, my patron,
 The generous and jovial Saint Nicholas of Bari.
 But, of your courtesy, Monsignore,
 Do me this favour:
 When you this morning make your way
 To the Ivory Throne that bursts into bloom with roses
   because of her who sits upon it,
 When you come to pay your devoir to Our Lady,
 I beg you, say to her:
 "Madame, a poor poet, one of your singing servants yet on earth,
 Has asked me to say that at this moment he is especially grateful to you
 For wearing a blue gown."