Oracles

NIGHT IN THE VALLEY I LAY within the forest’s virgin womb Tranced in the sweetness, nuptial, indolent, Of the faint breeze and tropical perfume, And all the music far lone waters lent Unto the masses of magnolia bloom, Tall scarlet lilies, and the golden scent Shed by strange clusters of more pallid flowers, And purple lustre strewn amid the twilight bowers. Far, far the pastureless, the unquiet sea Moaned ; far the stately pyramid of cold Shrouding the stars, arose : sweet witchery That brought them in the drowsing eye, to fold The picture in : with wingèd imagery That Hermes gathers with that floral gold Whose triple flower or flame or pinioned light Lends life to death, and love and colour unto light. How flames that scarlet stronger than Apollo, Too swift and warm to know itself a bird ! How the light winds and waves of moonlight follow, Shot from the West, cadence of Daylight’s word ! 99