The Soul of Osiris

14 THE SOUL OF OSIRIS. Only to me her eyelids sever And lips respire her equal breath ; Still in the unknown star I see The very god that is of me. The day’s pale countenance is lifted, The rude sun’s forehead he uncovers ; No soft delicious clouds have drifted, No wing of midnight’s bird that hovers ; Yet still the hard blind blue is rifted, And still my star and I as lovers Yearn to each other through the sky With eyes half closed in ecstasy. Night, Night, O mother Night, descend ! O daughter of the sleeping sea ! O dusk, O sister-spirit, lend Thy wings, thy shadows, unto me ! O mother, mother, mother, bend And shroud the world in mystery That secrets of our bed forbidden Cover their faces, and be hidden. O steadfast, O mysterious bride, O woman, O divine and dead ! O wings immeasurably wide, O star, O sister of my bed ! O living lover, at my side Clinging, the spring, the fountain-head Of musical slow waters, white With thousand-folded rays of light !