ASSUMPTA CANIDIA 
95 
 
The legend, “ Here is beauty, here delight, 
Here the embraces of the Sons of Night ! 
Here love made more desirable than thine, 
Fiercer than light, more dolorous than wine. 
Come, sister, come ; come, lonely queen of breath ! 
Here are the lustres and the flames of death.” 
 
Hence I was whirled, as in a wind of light, 
Out to the fragrance of a loftier air, 
A keener scent, and rising unaware 
Out of the Palace of Luxurious Night, 
I came to where the Gate of Heaven shone, 
Battled with comet and with meteor. 
Behold within that crested House of War, 
One central glory of a sapphire stone, 
Whereon there breathed a sense, a mist, a sun ! 
I stood and laughed upon the Ancient One. 
 
For He was silent as my body’s kiss, 
And sleeping as my many-coloured hair, 
And living as my eyes and lips ; and where 
The vast creation round him cried “ He Is ! ”, 
No murmur reached Him ; He was set alone, 
Alone and central.  And my eyes were dim; 
I worshipped even ; for I envied Him. 
So, moving upward to the azure throne, 
I spread my arms unto that ambient mist ; 
Lifted my life and soul up to be kissed !