Tannhäuser

In purple pleasure plucked of pain. Nay ! let our tears, that fail to sadden, Extol the truth of love's disdain ! Let deeper silence shield the deeper rapture ! Hardly our eyes reveal the inward bliss, Sealed by no speech and shadowed by no kiss. Love is no wizard to elude recapture In the strong prison of his silences ! Let deeper silence shield the deeper rapture ! Twin souls are we, to one Star bound in Heaven ! Twin souls on earth by earthly bars divided ! But, did thy spirit glide as mine has glided Straight to That Star — no rose-leaves ask to leaven The manna that the Moon of Love provided ! Twin souls are we, to one Star bound in Heaven ! Not to thy presence in the veil and vision Of solemn lies that men miscall the world ; Not to thy mind the lightnings truthward hurled I turn. I laugh dead distance to derision !— Spirit to spirit : there our loves are curled, Not to thy presence in the veil and vision ! 6