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Page 1 of 21901 · PDF PAGE 128
…SIRIS. Where icy fingers grip the overbold Son of their secrets, and like springes close On his choked throat and frozen body—Nay ! That death were twilight, and the gate of Day ! No death ye bring as his, that grips the flag In desperate fingers, and with bloody sword Flames up the thundering breach, while bastioned crag, Glacis, and pent-house belch their monstrous horde Of hideous engines shattering—this strife Clears the straight road of Glory and of Life ! Nay : but the hateful death that stings the soul Into rebellion ; the insensate deat…
1901 · PDF PAGE 127
…ockery of a thousand saintlier creeds ! Even I, that breathe your perfume, taste your breath, Know, even this hour, ye are not life, but death ! No death ye bring more godlike than desire, When seas roar tempest-lashed, and foam is flung Raging on pitiless crags, and gloomy fire Lurks in the master-cloud ; corpses are swung Helpless and horrible in trough and crest— That death were music, and the lord of rest. No death ye bring as when the storm is rolled, An imminent giant on the sun-ripped snows, L
1901 · PDF PAGE 98
…, as if a sword of light, Rayed of the very Dawn, would strike within The limitations of this deadly night That folds me for the sign of death and sin— O Light ! descend ! My feet move vaguely on In this amazing darkness, in the gloom That I can touch with trembling sense. There shone Once, in my misty memory, in the womb Of some unformulated thought, the flame And smoke of mighty pillars ; yet my mind Is clouded with the horror of this same Path of the wise men : for my soul is blind Yet : and the foemen I have never feared I could not see (if…
1901 · PDF PAGE 100
…ve, Sullen as night, and sleepy as a wave When tempest lowers and dare not strike, gapes wide, Vomiting pestilence ; the deadly bride Of death, Despair, grins charnel-wise : the gate Of Hope clangs resonant : and starless Fate Glowers like a demon brooding over death. Monstrous and mute, the slow resurgent breath Spreads forth its poison : the pale child at play Coughs in his gutter ; the hard slave of day Groans once and dies : the sickly spouse can feel The cold touch kill the unborn child, and steal Up to her broken heart : the pale hours ha…
1901 · PDF PAGE 81
…amed a narrow way of earth Crusted with salt : I watch the fairy birth Of countless flashes on the crystal flakes, Forgetting it is only death that makes Its home the centre of that starry girth. Yet, what is life ? The manhood in me wakes. The absolute desire hath hold of me. Death were most welcome in that solemn sea ; So bitter is my life. But carelessness Of life and death and love is on me—yes !
1901 · PDF PAGE 9
…pards lash them in unrest, And furtive serpents crawling to and fro— Sinister eyes, you burn into my breast ! All hell, all destinies of death are written Like litanies blaspheming in those eyes ; And where the lightning of high God hath smitten, Lie the charred brands of monstrous infamies, Wherein all destinies of death are written. T
1901 · PDF PAGE 104
…cries thy litany ! Thy mitre sits, divided strength, to end thy church and thee ! ” The third face spake and said : “ Welcome, O Man, to Death ! Thy little span of life is sped, Sighed out thy little breath. The worm that never dies is thine ; the fire that lingereth ! ” “ Three voices has thy frame, Their music is but one. Fool-demon, slave of night and shame, That canst not see the sun ! I am the Lord thy God : make thou homage and orison ! ” The wild heads sank in fear : Then, troubled, to those eyes Remembrance crept of many a year, Barred …
1901 · PDF PAGE 34
…e, her scorn, her cruel blows, Fill my whole life, consume my breath ; Her red-fanged hatred in me glows ; I lust for her, and hell, and death ; I see that ghastly look, and yearn Toward the brands of her that burn. Sleep shuns me ; dreams divide the night (My parched throat thirsty for her veins), That she and I with deep delight Suck from death’s womb infernal pains, Whose fire consumes, destroys, devours Through night’s insatiable hours. And altogether filled with love, And altogether filled with sin, The little sparks and noises move About …
1901 · PDF PAGE 69
…ace Curl, and thy perfume curls round me, An incense on my eager face. I see, beyond all seas and stars, The gates of hell, the paths of death Open : unclasp the surly bars, Before the voice of him that saith : “ I will ! ” Droop lower to my knees ! Sink gently to the leopard’s skin ! I must not stoop and take my ease, Or touch the body lithe and thin. Bright body of the myriad smiles, Sweet serpent of the lower life, The smooth silk touch of thee defiles, The lures and languors of a wife. Slip to the floor, I must not turn : There is a lion in…
1901 · PDF PAGE 10
…hy hatred hangs, Thy slow blood trickles on my swollen sides, Thy curdling purple where those poison-fangs Struck, slays desire and only death abides. Imminent over me thy hatred hangs ! Thy jet smooth body clung to mine awhile, Descending like the thunder-pregnant Night, Ominous, black, thy secret cruel smile Lured me. We lay like death ; until the light Thy jet smooth body clung to mine awhile !
1901 · PDF PAGE 133
… ! Breathe the creative Sign upon my mouth That even the body may become the soul : Cry, as the chained Eagle of the South, “ A house of death,” and make my spirit whole ! Touch with pure balm the five mysterious wounds ! Come ! come away ! but not your mighty sounds ! O wind of all the world ! O silent river ! O sea of seas ! O flower of all the flowers ! O fire ! O spirit ! Beam thou on for ever Through æons of illimitable hours ! Kiss thou my forehead, let thy tender breath Woo me to life, and my desire to death ! I shall be ready for it by-…
1901 · PDF PAGE 27
…he sea : O lover, come to me ! The pall Of night is woven : fair and free, Draw to my kisses, let thy breath Mingle for love the wine of death.
1901 · PDF PAGE 46
…ire Whose bowers of flame shall tell the sky of God How we despised his feet with thunder shod, And conquered, clasping, all the host of death. Turn to me, touch me, mix thy very breath With mine to mingle floods of fiery dew With flames of purple, like the sea shot through With golden glances of a fiercer star. Turn to me, bend above me ; you may char These olive shoulders with an old-time kiss, And fix thy mouth upon me for such bliss Of sudden rage rekindled. Turn again, And make delight the minister of pain, And pain the father of a new del…
1901 · PDF PAGE 106
… profound Still burns the rescuing sign ; Beyond all sight and sense and sound The symbol flames divine. For He shall make all life, all death, His solitary shrine.
1901 · PDF PAGE 41
…nded, Whose bow is called the moon. They see the waters slacken And all the sky’s blue blacken, While in the yellow bracken Love lies in death or swoon. The stars arise and brighten ; The summer lightnings lighten, Faint and as midnight mute ; And far white snowfields tighten The iron bands that frighten No fairy’s tender foot. Across the stiller river Stray flowers of ice may shiver, Before the day deliver The murmur of its lute. T
1901 · PDF PAGE 103
THE HOLY PLACE. 91 CERBERUS. STOOD within Death’s gate, And blew the horn of Hell : Mad laughters echoing against Fate, Harsh groans less terrible, Howled from beneath the vault ; in night the avenging thunders swell. The guardian stood aloof, A monster multiform. His armour was of triple proof, His voice out-shrilled the storm. Behind him all the Furies whirl and all the Harpies swarm. The first face spake and said : “ Welcome, O King, art thou ! Await thy throne a thousand dead ; A crown awaits thy brow, A seven-sting scorpion ; for thy rod t…
1901 · PDF PAGE 88
…his our “ Christian ” parents marred our youth : “ One thing is certain of our origin. We are born Adam’s bastards into sin, Servants to Death and Time’s devouring tooth. God, damning most, had this one thought of ruth To save some dozens—Us : and by the skin Of teeth to save us from the devil’s gin— Repentance ! Blood ! Prayer ! Sackcloth ! This is truth.” Our parents answer jesting Pilate so. I am the meanest servant of the Christ : But, were I heathen, cannibal, profane, My cruel spirit had not sacrificed My children to this Moloch. I am pla…
1901 · PDF PAGE 57
THE COURT OF THE PROFANE. 45 “ MANY WATERS CANNOT QUENCH LOVE.” N my distress I made complaint to Death : Thy shadow strides across the starry air ; Thou comest as a serpent unaware, Striking love’s heart and crushing out man’s breath : Thy destiny is even as God saith To mark the impotence of human prayer, Choke hope, sting all but Love ; and never care If man or flower or sparrow perisheth. Thee, I invoke thee, though no mercy move Thy heart ! No power is to thy hate assigned On love (sing, poets ! shrill, Pandean reeds !). But me, look on me…
1901 · PDF PAGE 30
…fttimes the Spirit of the Lord Descends and floods me with his breath ; My words are fashioned as a sword, My voice is like the voice of death. The thunder of the Spirit’s wings Brings terror to the hearts of kings. A
1901 · PDF PAGE 68
…ep, The birth of knowledge as a flower. Slow and divine thy gentle breath Woos my warm throat : my spirit flies Beyond the iron walls of death, And seeks strange portals, pale and wise. My lips are fervent, as in prayer, Thy lips are parted, as to kiss : My hand is clenched upon the air, Thy hand’s soft touch, how sweet it is ! M