AMBERGRIS 
107 
 
 
 
OTHER LOVE SONGS 
 
Helene 
 
Could ivory blush with a stain of the sunset on high-
lands 
Of snow :  could the mind of me span 
The tenderness born of the dew in immaculate is-
lands 
Virgin of maculate man : 
Could I mingle the Alps and Hawaii ;  Strath Ness 
and Aapura and Bai ; 
Kashmir and Japan : 
 
Could lilies attain to the life of the Gods :  could a 
comet 
Attain to the calm of the moon : 
I would mingle them all in a kiss, and draw from it 
The soul of a sensitive tune. 
All lovers should hear it and know it :  not needing 
the words of a poet 
In ebony hewn. 
 
O beam of discovery under the eyelids awakening 
The sense of delight !  O assent 
Slow dawning through cream into roses !  O white 
bosom shaking 
The myrtles of magical scent 
In the groves of the heart !  O the pleasure that 
runs over all overmeasure, 
The wine of Event ! 
 
Overmastered the hurl of the world in the hush of 
our rapture ; 
Entangled the bird of success