Clouds Without Water

Xx To drink one drop thereof is to be drunk. The firm feet stagger, and the world spins round; The fair speech stammers — nature's God hath sunk Into some trivial place of the profound. But he who is drunk thereon is wholly sane, Being wholly mad; he moves with space-wide wings Sees not a world — engulphed in the inane! Nor needs a voice for speech, because he sings. What then of them who are most drunk together As you and I are, mystic maiden 0’ mine, Beyond Dionysus and his tedious tether, Beyond Kithairon and his topmost pine? Why, even now I am drunk who scribble amiss These lines, not thinking — save of your last kiss! XI So Lola! Lola! Lola! Lola! peals, And Lola! Lola! Lola! echoes back, Till Lola! Lola! Lola! Lola! reels The world in a dance of woven white and black Shimmering with clear gold greys as hell resounds With Lola! Lola! Lola! and heaven responds With Lola! Lola! Lola! Lola! — swounds All light to clustered dazzling diamonds, And Lola! Lola! Lola! Lola! rings Ever and again on these inchaunted ears, And Lola! Lola! Lola! Lola! swings My soul across to those inchaunted spheres Where Lola is God and priest and wafer and wine — O Lola! Lola! mystic maiden o' mine!