Oracles

I28 ANIMA LUNAE In shapes not seen of men, abiding ever Above the lonely river Aloft : no more I saw than this, The shadowy bending to the first sweet kiss That surely could not end, though earth should end. Therefore my shut eyes blend With sleep’s own secret eyes and eyelashes, Long and deep ecstasies, Knowing as now I know—at last—how this Foreshadows my own bliss Of falling into death when life is tired. For all things desired Not one as death is so desirable, Seeing all sorrows pass, all joys endure, All lessons last. Not heaven and not hell (My spirit is grown sure) Await the lover But death’s veil draws, life’s mother to discover, Nature ; no longer mother, but a bride ! Ay ! there is none beside. O brothers mightier than my mightiest word In the least sob that stirred Your lyres, bring me, me also to the end ! Be near to me, befriend Me in the moonlit, moonless deeps of death, And with exalted breath Breathe some few flames into the embers dull Of these poor rhymes and leave them beautiful.