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Page 1 of 21898 · PDF PAGE 130
…that kiss, That foul embrace that moulds these agonies. This is th’ abyss ! A serpent was my whore ; her hellish hiss, Her slaver venoms soul and strength ; life flees Repugnant from the corpse-caress. Ah, this Rots blood and body ; see, the liquor’s lees I drained, whose pangs are fierce with Syphilis. Christ God, damn soul, but quench the pain of these ! This is th’ abyss ! * * * This is th’ abyss. Behold wherein I lurk The lazar-house my mind, wherein do work The horrid charnel-priests, whose loathly song Sickens my soul, and quells the spir…
1898 · PDF PAGE 121
…In one fair frame divine. Like clouds in rain, like seas Exultant as they roll, We mix in ecstacies, And, as breeze melts in breeze, Thy soul becomes my soul. I come to thee with tears, Nameless immortal dove ; Forget the fleet-foot years In the incarnate spheres Of our mysterious Love.
1898 · PDF PAGE 94
88 THE BLOOD-LOTUS To lure a soul to hell, to draw some saint’s charred lust, to tempt, to win Another sacrifice to sin, another poet’s heart to gnaw With dubious remorse. Oh ! flame of torturing flower- love ! sacrament Of Satan, triple element of mystery and love and shame, Green, gold, and crimson, in my heart you strive with Jesus for its realm, While Sorrow’s tears would overwhelm the warriors of either part ! Jesus would lure me : from his side the gleaming torrent of the spear Withdraws, my soul with joy and fear waits for sweet blood to…
1898 · PDF PAGE 57
YET TIME TO TURN 51 YET TIME TO TURN Brighter than snow on glittering Alps, the soul Of my lost love was, bluer than the haze Of those same hills, more violent and deep Her eyes’ clear gaze, Dreaming of hidden wonders ; and the goal Of life grew luminous o’er Time’s empurpled steep. She loved me then ; she loves me now, afar. Ah, she knew not ! and I, so steeped and stained With fierce sins, knew myself unworthy of The heart I gained, And, a lost mariner whose polar star He is ashamed to look to, cast away her love. I would not have her love a …
1898 · PDF PAGE 62
…arth’s barren shore, Fulfil immense desires of strange new shames, Burn into one another as the flames Of our hell fuse us into one wild soul : Then, one immaculate divinest whole, Plunge, fire, within all fire, dive far to death ; Till, like king Satan’s sympathetic breath, Burn on us as a voice from far above Strange nameless elements of fire and love ; And we, one mouth to kiss, one soul to lure, For ever, wedded, one, divine, endure Far from sun, sea, and spring from love or light, Imbedded in impenetrable night ;
1898 · PDF PAGE 20
… fashion : “ All Night ” and “ Victory ”, among others, are obviously inspired by her beauty ; and her devotion to him, the abasement of soul, the prostitution of body, she underwent for and with him, is one of the noblest stories life has known. She seems to have dived with him, yet ever trying to raise his soul from the quagmire ; if God is just at
1898 · PDF PAGE 117
…d sprite Who flew from heaven—was it hell ?— Into these bounds of light And music—yesternight— Had some new song to tell. I saw a living soul Flame into mortal dress ; Whose glance—a fiery coal, Whose lips—a ruby bowl Whose wine was wickedness. They were strange lips, I ween, Whereon no kiss might be, And teeth were sharp therein ; Ivory and white and keen, Tameless as hungering sea. Strange body of my desire, Voluptuous, lithe, and wan ; For, on my eyes drawn nigher,
1898 · PDF PAGE 37
…D LYDIAM, UT SECUM A MARITO FUGERET 31 Grow hot with love-thoughts—let the word be said : Between shy finger whisper me the “ yea ! ” My soul will leap to hear, as thine to speak. Remember Love, forget the loveless bed ; Forget thy husband, and the cruel wreck Of thy dear life on Wedlock’s piteous sands ; Love’s all in all, link on the golden bands Forged in heaven without flaw or fleck. I know thine answer by these amorous hands That touch me thus to tempt me, by the kiss Whose sudden passion burns upon my neck Thy heart clings to me in perfec…
1898 · PDF PAGE 128
…ve lain by thee, And felt thy kisses rain on me, And the hot beating of thy heart, When thy warm sweat should leave me cold, And my worn soul find out no bliss In the obscenities I kiss, And the things shameful that I hold. My nostrils sniff the luxury Of flesh decaying, bowels torn Of festive worms, like Venus, born Of entrails foaming like the sea. Yea, thou art dead. Thy buttocks now Are swan-soft, and thou sweatest not ; And hast a strange desire begot In me, to lick thy bloody brow ;
1898 · PDF PAGE 119
…h Love ! nor king nor queen Of mine exhaustless flame, But comrade of my teen, Spouse of that epicene Incontinence of shame. Twin Love ! Soul’s dual spouse, Dream-serpent of my life, Rose-garland of my brows Within that ivory house, Sex with itself at strife. Were I a wanton stream, Thou mightest bathe in me, Yet in that happy dream Methought my heart did deem We mingled utterly. O sexless ! deathless ! fair Beyond the world to me,
1898 · PDF PAGE 120
114 Á¼±ÆÁ¿´¯Ä¿Å O½±Á Thy love-gift I will wear, Thy joys my soul shall share, Being made one with thee. So, love, the days may keep My nameless love from me ; Yet over slumber’s deep I will sail into sleep Thither to lie by thee, Hold thee with arms that cleave Lock thee in limbs that leap, Chain thee with lips that leave Kisses of blood to weave Castles of hope in sleep. Poppy ! best flower whose bud Sends dreams to men that die, I drain thy drowsy flood That our impatient blood May mingle utterly. So, Hermes, thou art wed, So, Aphrodite…
1898 · PDF PAGE 23
…eemly, but bright flame I choose for diadem ; I would let fall All crowns, all kingdoms, for one rhythmical Caress of thine, one kiss my soul to tame. You crown me king and queen ; I crown thee lover ! I bid thee hasten, nay, I plead with thee, Come in the thick dear darkness to my bed. Heed not my sighs, but eagerly uncover, As our mouths mingle, my sweet infamy, And rob thy lover of his maidenhead.
1898 · PDF PAGE 107
…at utter sweetness yet ! What agony of curst hell-fire, Shame, lust, and infamy, and ire, Wrath in the highest heavens set, Shame in the soul, and leaping lust On pleasure’s flaming parapet, An Infamy that I forget.
1898 · PDF PAGE 88
… and fro amid the wildernesses Of swart curled locks ! I deem it a sweet sin, So sweet that fires of hell have no more power On body and soul to quench the lustrous flame Of that desire that burns between us twain. What is Eternity, seeing we hold this hour For all the lusts and luxuries of shame ? Heaven is well lost for this surpassing gain.
1898 · PDF PAGE 118
…d’s good spirit wist. Yet his wings bare him high, Divine beyond control, And, like for love to die, I felt his arrow fly Within my very soul. Ah Love ! the ambiguous kiss, Not man’s nor woman’s touch, In that ecstatic bliss— Not hell’s heat, as I wis, Had warmed us overmuch.
1898 · PDF PAGE 50
…ring upon and pierce With maddening fangs those firm white bosom towers, To tear those lithe voluptuous limbs apart And glut my ravening soul with vengeance. Heart Quickens as she draws near ; the scent of flowers Breathes round her damnéd presence. Shall she live To triumph with those tainted lips of song— She whispered “ Dearest, I have kept thee long ” I flung myself before her, “ Love, forgive ! ”
1898 · PDF PAGE 43
CONTRA CONJUGIUM T. B. B. 37 Play on its brink ! What soul can tell But I, your God, may be as air, A children’s snare ? “ But I am here, I will not heed, I will not give more signs ; But I Will come with heavy hand and deed And give men knowledge ere they die How their priests lie. “ A gospel marred, a bastard creed, A dogma out of hell ye teach ! False shepherds, ye shall learn your meed ; Not as waves breaking on the beach My wrath shall reach ! “ I forget not—heed not my cry, Play out the farce, wed fast the twain !— Red judgment and black …
1898 · PDF PAGE 106
…draw her sword at last, and be The eternal conqueror of Thee. And I, shall my support be sure In that great day of righteous war ? Is my soul free ? Is my heart pure ? Shall life diseased in death find cure ? Or shall the shameless barren whore That rules my ways be found my guide, Wed in bad bands so foul and sore That Liberty shall be not more Within my heart or at my side ? O Pleasure, whom I made my god, And based my forehead for thy pride And took thy bastard for my bride, Subdued my shoulders to thy rod, Casting before thy feet the things…
1898 · PDF PAGE 46
…more Ring in men’s ears, stately and glorified ” But I, with shuddering lips, to him replied “ Fame is the amaranth that fools desire My soul’s price is beyond thy jewels’ pride Thou has a guerdon, is it not for hire ? ” “ Wealth brought to me a purse, whose glancing gold Mocked the sun’s rays, grown dull as iron rust,
1898 · PDF PAGE 59
…ats the dead hours out ; scarce a melody Of measured pulses quickened with the blood Of that desire which pours its deadly flood Through soul and shaken body ; scarce a thought But sense through spirit most divinely wrought To perfect feeling ; only through the lips Electric ardour kindles, flashes, slips Through all the circle to her lips again And thence, unwavering, flies to mine, to drain All pleasure in one draught. No whispered sigh, No change of breast, love’s posture perfectly Once gained, we change no more. The fever grows Hotter or co…