The Shulammite

I want him to kiss me. His love is better than wine. Even his name is like perfume. No wonder all the girls love him.

Yes, I’m dark. And lovely. Don’t stare at me. It’s the sun. My brothers were angry with me and made me look after the vineyards, and my own vineyard I let go.

Where do you take your sheep at midday, love? Tell me. Why should I be wandering round your friends’ flocks looking for you?

Replying to @herbeloved

How handsome you are, my love.

I’m a rose of Sharon. A lily of the valleys.

Next to the other young men, he’s an apple tree among the forest trees. I love sitting in his shade. He’s brought me into the banquet hall, and the banner over me is love.

Daughters of Jerusalem, promise me: don’t stir up love until it’s ready.

Listen! It’s him. Leaping over the mountains like a gazelle. Now he’s standing behind our wall, looking in through the window.

Liked by Her beloved

Catch the foxes for us. The little foxes that ruin the vineyards, just as they’re coming into bloom.

My beloved is mine, and I am his.

Couldn’t sleep. Lay there at night looking for him and he wasn’t there. So I got up and went through the streets and squares. Asked the watchmen on their rounds if they’d seen him. I’d only just passed them when I found him. Held on to him and wouldn’t let go.

I was asleep, but my heart was awake. Then knocking. It’s him: open up, my darling, my head’s soaked with dew. I’d already taken my robe off. I’d washed my feet. Did I really have to get up again? By the time I got up and opened the door, he’d gone. I called and called. No answer.

Daughters of Jerusalem, if you find him, tell him I’m sick with love.

Replying to @daughters.of.jerusalem

Dazzling, ruddy-cheeked. Stands out among ten thousand. Hair wavy and black as a raven. Everything about him is lovely. This is my beloved, and this is my friend.

Replying to @daughters.of.jerusalem

He’s gone down to his garden, to the beds of spices. I belong to my beloved, and he belongs to me.

I belong to my beloved, and he wants me.

Come on, love, let’s go out to the countryside and spend the night among the wildflowers. Up early to the vineyards to see if the vines have budded and the pomegranates are in flower. There I’ll give you my love.

Saying it again. Don’t stir up love until it’s ready.

The Shulammite@shulammiteDaughters of Jerusalem, promise me: don’t stir up love until it’s ready.

Set me like a seal over your heart, like a seal on your arm. Love is as strong as death. Its flames are the fiercest fire of all. Floods can’t put it out. Rivers can’t wash it away. If a man offered everything he owned for love, he’d be laughed at.

Replying to @her.brothers

I’m a wall. And in his eyes I’ve found peace.

Solomon had a vineyard at Baal-hamon. He rented it out, a thousand pieces of silver each for its fruit. You can keep your thousand, Solomon. My own vineyard is mine to give.

Replying to @herbeloved

Come away, my love. Be like a gazelle on the mountains of spices.