Collected Works (Vol. I)

2 ACELDAMA ACELDAMA., DarRK night, red night. This lupanar? Has rosy flames that dip, that shake, Faint phantoms that disturb the lake Of magic mirror-land. A star Like to a beryl, with a flake Of olive light Struck through its dull profound, is steadfast in the night. I. I AM quite sane, quite quiet. Sober thought Isas a woof to my mad dreams. My brain Beats to the double stroke; the double strain Warps its gray fibres; all the dream is wrought A spider-tapestry ; the old blood-stain Spreads through the air Some hot contagious growth to slay men unaware, Il. I have discovered God! His ghastly way Of burning ploughshares for my naked feet Lies open to me—shall I find it sweet To give up sunlight for that mystic day That beams its torture, whose red banners beat Their radiant fire Into my shrivelled head, to wither Love’s desire? III. I was a child long years ago, it seems, Or months it may be—I am still a child ! They pictured me the stars as wheeling wild In a huge bow] of water; but my dreams Built it of Titan oak, its sides were piled Of fearful wood Hewn from God’s forests, paid with sweat and tears and blood. 1 Brothel. IV. I crept, a stealthy, hungry soul, to grasp Its vast edge, to look out to the beyond; To know. My eyes strained out, there was no bond, No continuity, no bridge to clasp, No pillars for the universe. Immond,? Shapeless, unstayed, Nothing, Nothing, Nothing, Nothing! I was afraid. V. That was my sanity. Brought face to face Suddenly with the infinite, I feared. My brain snapped, broke; white oarage- wings ? appeared On stronger shoulders set, a carapace, A chariot. I did essay that weird Unmeasured dome : Found in its balance, peace; found in its silence, home. VI. That was my madness. On bright plumage poised I soared, I hovered in the infinite ; Nothing was everything; the day was night, Dark and deep light together, that rejoiced In their strange wedlock. Marvellously white All rainbows kissed Into one sphere that stood, a circumambient mist. Vit. I climbed stillinwards. At the moveless point Where all power, light, life, motion con- centrate, I found God dwelling. Strong,immaculate, He knew me and he loved! His lips anoint My lips with love ; with thirst insatiate He drank my breath, Absorbed my life in His, dispersed me, gave me death. 1 Unclean—from the French zmsonde, 2 Cf. Virgil, Aeneid, vi. 20.