Orpheus

And, subtler than the Sphinx, The ineffable iynx Heralds thy splendour swooning into sense, When from the bluest bowers And greenest-hearted hours Of Heaven thou smilest toward earth, a miracle of flowers! Down to the loveless sea Where lay Persephone Violate, where the shade of earth is black, Crystalline out of space Flames the immortal face! The glory of the comet-tailéd track Blinds all black earth with tears. Silence awakes and hears The music of thy moving come over the starry spheres. Wrapped in rose, green and gold, Blues many and manifold, A cloud of incense hides thy splendour of light; Hides from the prayer’s distress Thy loftier loveliness Till thy veil’s glory shrouds the earth from night ; And silence speaks indeed, Seeing the subtler speed Of its own thought than speech of the Pandean reed! There no voice may be heard ! No place for any word ! 140