The Star in the West

30 THE STAR IN THE WEST And verily My life was borne on the dark stream of death Down whirling aeons , linked abysses , columns Built of essential time " 2 we In “ The Violet's Love Story ,” or in “ Dora , have as simple a poem as could be written , and in one of the verses of a chorus in “ Jephthah , " beginning “ There flashes the heart of a rose , one of the most mystical . Here is a furious inspiration in blank verse (the prophet in “ Jephthah " speaks ) : Ha ! The rose has washed its petals , and the blood Pours through its burning centre from my heart . The fire consumes the light ; the rosy flame Leaps through the veins of blue , and tinges them With such a purple as incarnadines The western sky when storms are amorous And lie upon the breast of toiling ocean , Such billows to beget as earth devours In ravening whirlpool gulphs . My veins are full , Throbbing with fire more potent than all wine , All sting of fleshly pangs and pleasures . Oh ! The god is fast upon my back ; he rides My spirit like a stallion ; for I hate The awful thong his hand is heavy with ." Again , in “ The Nameless Quest ": Then surged the maddening tide Of my intention . Onward ! Let me run ! Thy steed , O Moon ! Thy chariot , O Sun ! Lend me fierce feet , winged sandals , wings as wide As thine , O East wind ! And the goal is won ! 1 Tannhäuser , vol . i, p . 261 . Songs of the Spirit , vol . i, p . 38 . 3 Rosa Mundi and other Love Songs , vol . iii, p . 59 . 4 Jephthah , vol . i, p . 77 . 6 Ibid . p . 67 . 6 The Temple of the Holy Ghost , vol . i, p . 191 .