Gargoyles

Shouting for rapture over his prize, The maiden body of earth. Outrun The violent rays; the dawn is dashed In one swift moment into dust. Long lies the land with sunlight splashed, Brutally violate to his lust. Alone and naked I watched through The appalling hours of noon; I parched; I blistered: all the ghastly crew Of mind’s sick horror mocked me; arched Tike flaming vault of hell and pressed Its passionate murder in my breast. Seven times I strove to slay me: filled My mouth with sand to choke my breath. In vain! No loftier purpose willed The iron miracle of death. So, blind and strangled, I survive. So, with my skin a single scar, I hail the night, the night alive With Hathor for the evening star. O beauty! See me broken, burned Lone on the languorous Lybian plain! Is there one lesson to be learned 23