White Stains

84 “ GO INTO THE HIGHWAYS AND HEDGES ” “ GO INTO THE HIGHWAYS AND HEDGES, AND COMPEL THEM TO COME IN ” Let my fond lips but drink thy golden wine, My bright-eyed Arab, only let me eat The rich brown globes of sacramental meat Steaming and firm, hot from their home divine, And let me linger with thy hands in mine, And lick the sweat from dainty dirty feet Fresh with the loose aroma of the street, And then anon I’ll glue my mouth to thine. This is the height of joy, to lie and feel Thy spicéd spittle trickle down my throat ; This is more pleasant than at dawn to steal Toward lawns and sunny brooklets, and to gloat Over earth’s peace, and hear in ether float Songs of soft spirits into rapture peal.