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!
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