203 
 
 
 
 
 
L’AMOUR ET LE CRANE 
 
Love is seated on the skull 
 Of humanity ;   
And the mad, malicious fool,  
 Laughing brazenly, 
 
Gaily blows his bubbles high 
 In the air apace. 
Will they reach the stars that lie 
 At the end of space 
 
The shining globe—O fragile veil !   
 Gives one leap supreme, 
Breaks and spits its soul out, frail 
 As a golden dream. 
 
Groans the skull at every puff :   
 “ Peace, I pray thee, peace !   
The game is fierce and fond enough— 
 Will it never cease ?   
 
“ That which thy babe’s mouth, cruelly fain, 
 Squanders in the scud, 
Monstrous assassin is my brain, 
 My flesh and my blood ! ”