The second one, of course, is a version of a passage from Song of Songs, chapter 6. It occurs to me that the Bannered is arguably the starry host, to go with the White (which we know from elsewhere is a synonym of the moon) and the Hot (which is a synonym of the sun), which gives a nice layer to the passage. The she-goats, ewes, queens, concubines, and virgins could also very well be figures of speech for the starry sky. It's remarkable how much sense you can make of the passage in this way; for instance, the bathing place or 'washing' could very well be the Milky Way, the three similes at the beginning could be a different way of expressing the three celestial similes at the end, etc. And, of course, that interacts interestingly with readings of the Fair One as Israel, the Church, and the soul. Truly the Song of Songs.
About a Poem
Word drew well,
lines sketched cheerfully;
hope painted deftly
hues suitable;--
life sought truly
as, sail slung neatly,
peace sailed dreamily
pure, restless seas.
Like the Many-Bannered
Bright are you, my nearest,
like the Delightful Place,
comely like the Peaceful Place,
sublime like the Many-Bannered!
Remove from me your presence,
for it overwhelms:--
your hair like a flock of she-goats
capering from the empty place;
your teeth like a flock of ewes,
springing up from the Bathing Place,
each one twin-bearing and none barren;
your temple like a pomegranate slice
behind your veil.
Sixty are the queens
and eighty the concubines,
with virgins numberless,
but one is my dove,
one my perfect one,
she of her mother,
she the pure one of the one who bore her.
The daughters saw her and blessed her;
the queens and concubines praised her.
Who is this leaning out like the dawn,
bright like the White,
pure like the Burning,
sublime like the Many-Bannered?