When winter winds lament across the plain,
And shadows lengthen in the fading light,
You stand distinct, a fortress ‘gainst the rain,
My solid wall against the creeping night.
No gilded trinkets do I seek from thee,
But rather strength that silent mountains keep;
Within your arms, a calm and sheltered sea,
Where fears are stilled and weary sorrows sleep.
Thou art the pillar of my trembling soul,
The harbor where my drifting vessel stays;
While tempests rage and thunderous oceans roll,
Your steadfast heart illuminates my ways.
Oh, let me praise this quiet, virile grace,
The roof of love beneath which I abide;
My sanctuary is your warm embrace,
My rock, my home, where I am safe to hide.
In the spirit of the Romantic era, these verses explore the sublimity of safety found in love. The imagery shifts from the chaotic storms of nature to the architectural permanence of the beloved, portraying him not just as a lover, but as the very foundation upon which life is built.
