Collected Works (Vol. I)

194 THE TEMPLE OF THE HOLY GHOST But I have also answered: ‘‘ Let the groan Of this Thy world reach up to Thee, and wrest Thy bloody sceptre : let the wild winds own Man’s lordship, and obey at his behest !” Man has two minds: the first beholding all, As from a centre‘to the endless end: The second reaches from the outer wall, And seeks the centre. This I comprehend. But in the first: ‘I can—-but what is worth ?”’ And in the second: earth !” ‘*T am dust and THE TWO WISDOMS. SOPHIE! I loved her, tenderly at worst. Yet in my passion’s highest ecstasy, When life lost pleasure in desire to die And never taste again the deadly thirst For those caresses ; even then a curst Sick pang shot through me: looking far on high, Beyond, I see Zogca in the sky. The petty bubble of Love’s pipe is burst ! Yea! through the portals of the dusky dawn I see the nameless Rose of Heaven un- fold ! Yea! through rent passion and desire with- drawn Burns in the East the far ephemeral gold. O Wisdom! Mother of my sorrow! Rise! And lift my love to thine immortal eyes ! THE TWO LOVES. Wuar is my soul? The shadow of my will. What is my will? The sleeper’s sigh at waking. Osiris! Orient godhead ! Jet me still Rest in the dawn of knowledge, ever slaking My lips and throat where yon rose-glimmer- ing hill, The Mountain of the East, its lips is taking To Thy life-lips: I hear Thy keen voice thrill ; Arise and shine! the clouds of earth are breaking! The clouds are parted: yes! And there above I bathe in ether and self-shining light ; My soul is filled with the eternal love; I am the brother of the Day and Night. I AM! my spirit, and perhaps my mind ! But O my heart! I left thy love behind ! A RELIGIOUS BRINGING-UP. WiTH this our ‘‘ Christian” parents marred our youth; ‘One thing is certain of our origin. We are born Adam’s bastards into sin, Servants to Death and Time’s devouring tooth. God, damning most, had this one thought of ruth To save some dozens—-Us : and by the skin Of teeth to save us from the devil’s gin— Repentance! Blood! Prayer! Sackcloth! This is truth.” Our parents answer jesting Pilate so.! I am the meanest servant of the Christ : But, were I heathen, cannibal, profane, My cruel spirit had not sacrificed My children to this Moloch. Iam plain? ‘‘Blasphemer ! Damned!”? Undoubtedly —I know! THE LAW OF CHANGE. SOME lives complain of their own happiness. In perfect love no sure abiding stands ; In perfect faith are no immortal bands Of God and man. This passion we possess Necessitous ; insistent none the less Because we know not how its purpose brands Our lives, Even on God’s knees and in His hands: . The Law of Change. adulteress 1”? “Out, ot, 1 See Bacon’s Essay on Truth.