Page:Main Street and other poems, Kilmer, 1917.djvu/28

MAIN STREET AND OTHER POEMS A BLUE VALENTINE

(For Aline)

ONSIGNORE,

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 [ 22 ]