The Winged Beetle

ROSA COELI 9 X Another time, through tides from chaos rolled I was upborne by this my scarabee With scales like plates of porphyry and gold And wings like flakes of the green light that pours Through the blue heart of the Hawaian sea. So to the hollow shores We came, and did behold a silver avenue That wound through cypress groves and woods of yew Unto the hills ; hideous hyaenas laughed, Mean jackals snarled and screamed, and wild dogs bayed : Bayed at the waning moon that lapsed above Out of all light (had I not been in love, And drunken on the quintessential draught) So that the forest folk were sore afraid. But when I came upon the open space I might perceive my lady’s face, And knew she waned because that I was late. Twin hills like ivory glinted ; on their slopes Blue rivers coursed, and many a nightingale Told all its tremulous tale To viewless dryads, or elate Trilled out its bleeding hopes Into the mist of light that hid (I know) Bassarids, Bassarids Dionysus-mad. Then, in that vision glad, I saw twin towers of crimson ruby rise Into the scented snow That fell like dew from the heart-hungry skies.