Clad in pale green and rose, 
Her thin face flickers, glows, 
Tempestuous flame. 
Horrid and harsh she goes, 
Speaks, trembles, wakes and knows 
How frail is shame ! 
Grows vast and cloudy and is 
The whole mouth’s sobbing kiss, 
And crushes me with bliss 
Beyond a name. 
 
 
Then fall I from excess 
Of bitter ecstasies, 
Pale ghosts of blood, 
To worlds where palaces 
Shine through dim memories 
Of flower and flood, 
Shine in pale opal and pearl, 
Void of bright boy or girl, 
Desolate halls that furl 
Their shapes subdued. 
 
 
5