THE FIFTEENTH DAY 
 
“ Were kisses all the joys in bed, 
One woman would another wed.” 
Sonnets to Sundry 
Notes of Music. 
 
Another day rose of unceasing fire : 
Kisses made monstrous for their sterile storm 
Maddening with sea-sounds, as of lute or shawm 
Fluting and clashing in extreme desire ; 
The silly “ Thus far and no farther,” nigher 
Each hour to break (poor arbitrary form !) 
As each kiss bade our bodies wed and warm 
Give love one chance before its wave retire. 
 
Not so :  this trial was the tiniest 
Man ever knew, confronted afterward 
With giant fears and passions ;—long to fight 
And last to yield a Maenad-swelling breast 
Unto a furious Dionysian horde 
Drunk not with wine, but with avenging night. 
 
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