Okay, here it is. (Also, I have to thank you for the introduction to her work, because it's lovely. [grin])

Nimue to Merlin
Marilyn Hacker

Who are you anyway? Did it take long
to get here? I don’t live in a tower,
but I don’t have Thursday salons either.
I take care of my plants. I’m not as young
as I look, and I like to be alone
most of the time. May I fix you a drink?

Shoo off the cat. I usually don’t drink
before dinner, but I’ve had a long
day, working. Are you traveling alone?
I’ve heard about you. Once, I saw your tower
from the high road, when I was very young
and curious. I’m glad that I’m not either

now. And here you are, which means you’ve either
changed, or you want something. I wouldn’t drink
so fast if I were you. How young
you look. Your skin is like a boy’s, and long
hair becomes you. If you stood up, you would tower
over me. Don’t you find, when you’re alone

long, you lose eyes and voices, let alone
people’s taste and smells. Excuse me, I’ll either
embarrass myself or you. In your tower
when it’s almost dawn, and you can’t drink
or sleep more (I’m presuming) and it’s a long
way down, and some idiotic young

bird shrills up, do you think, when you were young,
if you’d let it hurt, let well enough alone,
things would have gotten better before long?
You wouldn’t be here now. I don’t think so either.
Here’s pears and cheese. I’ll make another drink.
Your hands are cold. Your neck is stiff as a tower.

It’s already late. The road back to the tower
is crowded with political loud young
men with no wives who’ve had too much to drink.
Do you want to go back there tonight alone?
I won’t keep you. I won’t chase you, either.
Sometimes the nights here are extremely long.

Lie alongside me. I’ll build you a tower
in my hand. You’re either too old or too young
to be alone here. Open your mouth. Let me drink.