with a glass inlaid with gemstones on a pool around the evening among the perfumed roses wait for her with the patience of a packhorse loaded for the mountains like a stoic noble prince wait for her with seven pillows laid out on the stair the scent of womens incense fills the air be calm and wait for her and do not flush the sparrows that are nesting in her braids all along the barricades wait for her and if she comes soon wait for her and if she comes late wait let her be still as a summer afternoon a garden in full bloom let her breathe in the air that is foreign to her heart let her lips part wait for her take her to the balcony see the moon soaked in milk hear the rustle of her silk wait for her don t let your eyes alight upon the twin doves of her breast lest they take flight wait for her and if she comes soon wait for her and if she comes late wait wait serve her water before wine do not touch her hand let your fingertips rest at her command speak softly as a flute would to a fearful violin breathe out breathe in  and as the echo fades from that final fusillade remember the promises you made2