Thelema ScholarTHE ALEISTER CROWLEY COLLECTION
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1898 · PDF PAGE 71

Songs of the Spirit

… wicked breath, And no angel warns the ear that this is death ? Is this fiend the Love that came when youth rose up Purple with its holy flame, and flower-fair cup, Gave me of his burning wine to fire my heart, Filled me with desires divine toward my art ? Is he then the Love who robs me of my aim, Doubts me if my heart still throbs with that cold flame, Calm and eager purpose yet to reach the goal That high hopes have sternly set before my soul, To know, will, dare for man’s sake if man may, Grasp the secret of the plans that rule the way Of s…

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1898 · PDF PAGE 19

Songs of the Spirit

…ght was drawn A veil across the silver dawn On holy wings that hovered. The music of three thoughts became The beauty, that is one white flame, The justice that surpasses shame, The victory, the splendour, The sacred fountain that is whirled From depths beyond that older world A new world to engender. The kingdom is extended. Night Dwells, and I contemplate the sight 9

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1898 · PDF PAGE 112

Songs of the Spirit

…nder vine, Earth’s hopes entwine, And all the furies of the air caress The sorceress Whose bosom beats in unison with shame, A flower of flame Whose root most secretly made fast in hell Is watered by the seraphim that fell. The heart wherein is lit the sacred fire Of high desire, Burnt clean from all untruth and sacrilege, Her wings may fledge, And fly a little in the broad sweet air, Till unaware 102

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1898 · PDF PAGE 94

Songs of the Spirit

These press upon my lips What lips of flame To burn me, unless slips Some cooler kiss, from shame Washed clean by God’s desire, To save me from their fire— Those kiss me and respire The perfume of the Name. Remorse and terror banished By pitying lovers, Who from my eyes have vanished, (The Lidless Eye discovers), Repenting souls that turn, Whose hearts with pity burn For me, who now discern Their love around me hovers. Their love wards from my head The furious hate Of those loves doubly dead That may not pass the gate : 84

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1898 · PDF PAGE 109

Songs of the Spirit

…of long years, Sorrows of life and agonies of death, Hard caught-up breath, The labouring hands of love, the cheeks of shame, The gloomy flame 99

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1898 · PDF PAGE 99

Songs of the Spirit

… lamp of beaten gold And secret might ; Because my forehead bears the sacred name, And my lips bear the brand Of Him whose heaven is one flame, Whose holy hand Gathers this earth, who built the vaults of space, Moulded the stars, and fixed the iron sea, Because His love lights through my face And all of me. Because my hand may fasten on the sword If my heart falter not, and smite Those lampless limits most abhorred Of iron night, 89

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1898 · PDF PAGE 104

Songs of the Spirit

…t coast. Eternity, a wheel of light, And Time, a fleece of snow, I saw, and deep beyond the night, The steady mystic glow Of that lamp’s flame unearthly bright That watches Earth below. Long avenues of sleepy trees And bowers arched with love, And kisses woven for a breeze, And lips that scarcely move, Save as long ripples on the seas, That murmur like a dove. I saw the burning lips of God Set fast on Mary’s face, 94

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1898 · PDF PAGE 98

Songs of the Spirit

And on his feet I knew the sandals were More beautiful than flame, and white, And on the glory of his hair The crown of night. And I beheld his robe, and on its hem Were writ unlawful words to say, Broidered like lilies, with a gem More clear than day. And round him shone so wonderful a light As when on Galilee Jesus once walked, and clove the night And calmed the sea. I scarce could see his features for the fire That dwelt about his brow, Yet, for the whiteness of my own desire, I see him now ; Because my footsteps follow his, and tread The aw…

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1898 · PDF PAGE 37

Songs of the Spirit

…m woods when all the bare black branches Creak out their curses like a gallows-tree, When the miasmal pestilence-light dances, A spectre-flame, through midnight’s infamy. My blood grows chill and stagnant with my shame. O Love, to speak thy name ! O Life ! O Heaven ! O dreams long dead ! Ye Spirits Rising unbidden from Hope’s cobwebbed door, Ye quick desires that every soul inherits, Leave me to weep, and torture me no more ! My face grows grey with sheer despair ; I shrink From dreams ; I dare not think. I had a poet’s dreams. My soul was year…

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1898 · PDF PAGE 42

Songs of the Spirit

…— Fancies of starlight on the lucent sea Gleaming from wide horizon to the feet Of Cynthia’s bow, all silver-shot with fire, That virgin flame that lingers evermore 32

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1898 · PDF PAGE 29

Songs of the Spirit

SONNETS TO NIGHT. O NIGHT ! the very mother of us all, For from thy hollow womb we children came, A little space to flicker as a flame, And then within thy tender arms to fall Tired, fain of nothing but to lie at last Upon thy bosom, and gaze in thine eyes Clear, calm, dispassionate, supremely wise, And pass with thee the gates that must be passed. O Night, on thee is set our only hope, Because our eyes, to tender for the day, Are dazed with sunlight, and poor fingers grope For those far truths that mock our vague en- deavour, Whilst we may fin…

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1898 · PDF PAGE 77

Songs of the Spirit

…ead of the rock ; I saw The armies of unalterable law Shudder within their spheres, as to him came His master’s spirit, like a tongue of flame, To touch his lips and ears and eyes and hands With that pale amber that divides the lands Of sense and spirit, and beheld him quail 67

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1898 · PDF PAGE 14

Songs of the Spirit

…ep, We see our loved one, and vain eyes desire In vain to weep. Woeful our gaze, if on Ione Earth descendent, To view the absence of yon flame afar— Yet in the Heavens, anew, divine, resplendent, Behold a star ! One light the less, that steady flamed and even Amid the dusk of Earth’s uncertain shore ; One light the less, but in Jehovah’s Heaven One star the more ! 4

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1898 · PDF PAGE 7

Songs of the Spirit

…e fetters that beset me round, Opened my waking ear to sound That may not by a man be found, except in sleep. Thy presence was as subtle flame Burning in dawny groves ; thy name Like dew upon the hills became, And all thy mind a star most bright ; And, following with wakeful eyes The strait meridian of the wise, My feet tread under stars and skies ; My spirit soars and seeks and flies, a child of light. Thus eager, may my purpose stand Firm as the faith of honest hand, Nor change like castles built of sand Until the sweet unchanging end. Happy …

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1898 · PDF PAGE 28

Songs of the Spirit

…nity, thou sphere All-comprehensive, all-mysterious, Spirit of Life and Death, bow down and hear ! [Bends deeper and prays silently. The flame grows duller, and finally leaves the room in absolute darkness. Curtain. 18

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