62 
AFTER JUDGMENT 
 
 
For while I praised the pearl-clear skin, 
 The bright lithe body’s supple growth, 
By God !  I could not even begin 
 To say one word about her mouth !   
 
God !  hadst Thou given me that one word, 
 I now might praise Thee, though Thou damn. 
But oh !  not ever a soul hath heard 
 Its echo, O Thou great I Am !   
 
Lo !  Thou hast made the winds, the stars, 
 The sun, the moon, the great grave earth ;   
Thou has touched the swaying nenuphars 
 With music, and made godly mirth 
 
With corn and wine ;  Thou hast made Thee man ;   
 Thou hast loved and suffered, died and risen ;   
But—hath Thy mouth grown white and wan, 
 Sucked out into that strange sweet prison 
 
Nay, Thou hast never kissed the mouth 
 Of Dorothy !  as I !  as I !   
Thou hast never felt its eager growth 
 Upon my Lesbian ecstasy. 
 
Therefore I curse Thee not, accurst 
 Who art in that one flower foregone— 
And I the last match Thee the first 
 When that red mouth I fasten on.