Clouds Without Water

VI Am I not beautiful? Your lithe mouth twitches As if already you were glutted on This fair firm flesh that fears you and yet itches —- You know it — for some master malison. Perhaps you mean to let me go? Ah sweet ! How seven times sweet if you will let me go — Oh! Oh! I want to worship at your feet. Why do you stab me with a smiling ‘‘ No”? Say ‘‘ no” at least — to see you sitting there So dumb is madness — why then, let me go! I will —- and you sit quiet — did you dare? To everything the answer still is ‘ No! ” You coward! Coward! Coward ! let me rise! — I cannot bear the hunger in your eyes. — 106— VII You are afraid of me — I see it now. You know that if you loose me, never again Will TI be such a fool. I wonder how T ever took this destiny of pain. Loose me! You dare not. Take your eyes away! You dare not. O you laugh! Youtrust your power There you are wrong — but had you turned to-day I would have murdered you within the hour. Yes! you do well — you know the dreadful weight Pale silence sheds, not Atlas could uplift. You know the spell to conquer love and hate, To win the world and win it at a gift. You are afraid of that then — had you spoken You fear the spell upon me had been broken!