Oracles

VENUS Written in the temple of the L.I.L., No. 9, Central America. MISTRESS and maiden and mother, immutable mutable soul ! Love, shalt thou turn to another ? Surely I give thee the whole ! Light, shall thou flicker or darken ? Thou and thy lover are met. Bend from thy heaven and hearken ! Life, shalt thou fade or forget ? Surely my songs are gone down as leaves in the dark that are blown : Surely the laurel and crown have faded and left me alone. Vainly I cry in the sunlight ; moon pities my passion in vain. Dark to my eyes is the one light, aching in bosom and brain. Surely, O mother, thou knowest ! Have I not followed thy star ? I have gone whither thou goest, bitterly followed afar, 87