II
THE OPIUM-SMOKER
IV
See how the Star of the Universe blazes!
Millions of meteors in marvellous mazes
Mingle their magic of peony praises.
Oh! the dark streak on the heart of its flood !
Smitten is the Star, and its poisonous blood
Drips through the race of the luminous scud.
Poison and poison and poison! I quiver,
Drenched with the hate of the horrible river—
O but the stars of it stagger and shiver!
Leave me in peace, O disaster of light!
Leave me to solitude, leave me to night!
Is there no moon to enkindle the height?
Vv
See how the moon with her amrita dews
Drinks up the death of the Star, and renews
Life in cascades of peonian hues !
Nay, but she curves to arise, to increase;
Glamour on glamour to sicken and cease.
How shall the warrior win to the peace?
Fade, O thou moon, in thy magical bark!
Sink in the ocean thy silvery spark !
Leave me, ah leave me alone in the dark!
N 193,