E’en with weakest need, shall I anon
find breath but to speak, and heart but to sigh,
for this moment’s music, let it play on;
play on and away this pallor this nigh,
that the gods may then hear my soulful song,
and burden their breath with the sweetest cry;
that, for a moment, they might sing along,
while their gaze may then mend a fractured sky;
thus, I, in my way, show both tear and smile,
that light shines upon my face, still in dawn,
that such music plays, tho’ ’tis soft a while,
so, this, in reverie, do I play on;
play on, how dulcet gone, thy breath does roll,
play on, lest e’en breath forsake thy soul.
Petrichor 