I know he wills me to remain
Woman.” ‘“ How frivolous and vain,
O Zeus,” I cried, “ art thou to rise
Out of Olympus’ ecstasies!
Omnipotent! but to control
The first breath of a human soul !—”
The thunder rolled through heaven again,
Void was the spring-delighted plain
Of that gigantic phantasy.
I turned to my Eurydice
Even as she turned. The faint breath glows,—
The lightning of a living rose.
The bright eyes gleam—night’s spotless stars
Glimmering through folded nenuphars.
The red mouth moves, still to the word:
“Yes, love!” and “yes, love!” Then I heard
No sound and saw no sight—the world
Folded its mighty wings, and curled
Its passion round us; bade forget
The joy with which our eyes were wet.
All faded, folded in the bliss ;
Unfolded the first fadeless kiss.
Then my soul woke, not sundering lips,
But winged against the black eclipse
Of sense: my soul on wings did poise
Her glory in the vast turquoise
Of the whole sky: expanded far
Beyond the farthest sun or star,
Beyond all space, all time. I saw
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