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The kiss of consciousness, Human and Divine. 
 
 
 
XIX. 
 
The Cherry Tree 
 
 
I know a cherry-tree by Bendimir1 
Whose blossom curves and sways upon the clear 
 
Eddies of light ;  I have a cedar boat 
Whose cushions are of dove’s down2 ;  let us steer 
 
Under that tree and lie alone together 
What time the West is grey, the stars appear. 
 
Then you shall love me as a virgin would ; 
Shudder a little with a little fear, 
 
But yield thy podex to my lotus-wand, 
Giving some smile twin sister to a tear, 
 
Just as the body shudders3 when the soul 
Gives up to Allah, in its hot career, 
 
 Identity ;  impales its sunless self 
On to the splendour of that sunbright spear, 
 
And laughs and weeps, not knowing what it does, 
Entering the glowing rapture of the sphere 
 
Where He is manifestly all ;  and all 
He ;  where the I and Thou must disappear. 
 
We shall not know if thee I sodomize, 
Or if thou sodomizest me, my dear !