Orpheus

(Not caring if I lived or died) Erect against the sky: Then plunged into the wheeling tide, And vanished utterly. “O shape half seen of love, and lost Beneath time’s sightless tide, What obolus of the vital cost Remains, or may abide ? Or what perception memory steal, Once passed upon the whirling wheel ? “O hope half held. of love, and fled Beyond the ivory gate, A dream gone from the hapless head By fury of a fate! What image of the hope returns But stings with agony that which yearns? “© face half kissed in faith and fear, Eager and beautiful! Drop for mortality one tear! For life one smile recall! There is no passion made for me— Else were my water-well the sea.” Such tune my falling body snapped Within the sacred sides, While the warm waves with laughter lapped, And changed their tunéd tides,