THE EQUINOX
39. Thou hast fastened the fangs of Eternity in my soul,
and the Poison of the Infinite hath consumed me utterly.
40. I am become like a luscious devil of Italy; a fair
strong woman with worn cheeks, eaten out with hunger for
kisses. She hath played the harlot in divers palaces; she
hath given her body to the beasts.
41. She hath slain her kinsfolk with strong venom of
toads; she hath been scourged with many rods.
42. She hath been broken in pieces upon the Wheel; the
hands of the hangman have bound her unto it.
43. The fountains of water have been loosed upon her;
she hath struggled with exceeding torment.
44. She hath burst in sunder with the weight of the
waters; she hath sunk into the awful Sea.
45. Soam I, O Adonai, my lord, and such are the waters
of Thine intolerable Essence.
46. So am I, O Adonai, my beloved, and Thou hast burst
me utterly in sunder.
47. Iam shed out like spilt blood upon the mountains; the
Ravens of Dispersion have borne me utterly away.
48. Therefore is the seal unloosed, that guarded the
Eighth abyss; therefore is the vast sea as a veil; therefore
is there a rending asunder of all things.
49. Yea, also verily Thou art the cool still water of the
wizard fount. I have bathed in Thee, and lost me in Thy
stillness.
50. That which went in as a brave boy of beautiful limbs
cometh forth as a maiden, as a little child for perfection.
51. O Thou light and delight, ravish me away into the
milky ocean of the stars!
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