Songs of the Spirit

But so God would not have me die ; Her deadly lips relax and fade, Her body slackens with a sigh Reluctant, like a maid. I said : O vampire Lover, weep, Who cannot follow me above, Though Death may masquerade as Sleep, And Lust laugh out like Love. But God’s strong arms set under me Lifted my spirit through the air Beyond the wide supernal sea, Beyond the veil of vair. God said : My ways are sweet and deep ; The sceptres and the swords thereof Change : for Death’s face is fair as Sleep ; And Lust is clean as Love. I slept upon His breast ; and Death Came like Sleep’s angel, and I died, And tasted the Lethean breath. There was a voice that cried : 23