The Star and the Garter

Glittered enamelled sorceries. She was a piece of jewel work Sold by a Christian to a Turk. She had fed on air that day : the flowers About her curled, ambrosial bowers Of some divine perfume : the soul Of ether made her wise ; control Of strong distilled delight. She showered Wit and soft laughter and desire About her breasts in bliss embowered, And subtle and devouring fire Leapt in live sparks about her limbs. Her spirit shields me, and bedims My sight: she needs me: I need her. She is mine: she calls me: sob and stir Strange pulses of old passionate Imperial ecstacies of fate. Destiny ; manhood; fear; delight; Desire; accomplishment; ere night Dipped her pale plumes to greet the sun She was not ; all is past and done. A dream? I wake from blissful sleep, But is it real? Well, I keep An accidental souvenir Whence thus to chronicle small beer; There is the garter. Launched our boat, The stately pinnace once afloat, 43