The Equinox (Volume III, Number I)

THE EQUINOX 10. But she stirred not; only by my kisses I defiled her so that she turned to blackness before me. 11. Yet I worshipped her, and gave her of the flower of my youth. 12. Also it came to pass, that thereby she sickened, and corrupted before me. Almost I cast myself into the stream. 13. Then at the end appointed her body was whiter than the milk of the stars, and her lips red and warm as the sunset, and her life of a white heat like the heat of the midmost sun. 14. Then rose she up from the abyss of Ages of Sleep, and her body embraced me. Altogether I melted into her beauty and was glad. 15. The river also became the river of Amrit, and the little boat was the chariot of the flesh, and the sails thereof the blood of the heart that beareth me, that beareth me. 16. O serpent woman of the stars! I, even I, have fash- ioned Thee from a pale image of fine gold. 17. Also the Holy One came upon me, and I beheld a white swan floating in the blue. 18. Between its wings I sate, and the zons fled away. 19. Then the swan flew and dived and soared, yet no whither we went. 20. A little crazy boy that rode with me spake unto the swan, and said: 21. Who art thou that dost float and fly and dive and soar in the inane? Behold, these many zons have passed; whence camest thou? Whither wilt thou go? 22. And laughingI chid him, saying: No whence! No whither! 72