Lesbian Love Poems

To My Excellent Lucasia, on our Friendship

17th July 1651

I did not live until this time

Crown’d my felicity,

When I could say without a crime,

I am not thine, but thee.

This carcass breath’d, and walk’d, and slept,

So that the world believ’d

There was a soul the motions kept;

But they were all deceiv’d.

For as a watch by art is wound

To motion, such was mine:

But never had Orinda found

A soul till she found thine;

Which now inspires, cures and supplies,

And guides my darken’d breast:

For thou art all that I can prize,

My joy, my life, my rest.

Nor bridegroom’s nor crowned conqueror’s mirth

To mine compar’d can be:

They have but pieces of this earth,

I’ve all the world in thee.

Then let our flame still light and shine,

(And no bold fear control),

As innocent as our design,

Immortal as our soul.

Katherine Philips