Ambergris

138 AMBERGRIS For brighter from age unto age The weary old world shall renew Its life at the lips of the sage, Its love at the lips of the dew. With kisses and tears The return of the years I sure as the starlight is true. Yet the drift of the stars is to beauty, To strength, and to infinite pleasure. The toil and the worship and duty Shall turn them to laughter and leisure. Were the world understood Ye would see it was good, A dance to a delicate measure. Ye fools, interweaving in passion The lyrical light of the mind ! Go on, in your drivelling fashion ! Ye shall surely seek long and not find. From without ye may see All the beauty of me, And my lips that their kisses are kind. For Eurydice once I lamented ; For Orpheus I do not lament : Her days were a span, and demented ; His days are for aye, and content. Mere love is as nought To the love that is Thought, And idea is more than event. O lovers ! O poets ! O masters Of me, ye may ravish my frown ! Aloof from my shocks and disasters ! Impatient to kiss me, and crown ! I am eager to yield. In the warrior field Ye shall fight me, and fasten me down.