146 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
THE SPHINX 
 
BENEATH the cruel splendid Sphinx 
My soul lies supine still, and drinks 
Damnation from the emerald eyes, 
Death from the painted mouth that dies 
As, drunk on life, she sucks it in !   
O crimson masterpiece of sin, 
The mouth that maddens me and slays 
My youth in many molten ways !   
All her adulterous ardours wake 
The god, the tiger, and the snake.  
I yield ;  her soft, her strenuous breath 
Fills me and feeds my soul on death. 
 
O Sphinx, more sacred than the stars !   
O beast !  O God !  thy passion chars 
This life.  Beneath thy claws I writhe. 
For like a lion thou art lithe 
And like a bull exceeding strong. 
Thine eagle’s scream beats down my song. 
Ah slay me, slay me now !  Have done ! . . . 
The torture is but half begun.