The Equinox (Volume I, Number IX)

192 THE EQUINOX Of him who hath not been behind the veil, Who, having ears, is deaf; and eyes, is blind. Yet, wherefore do I know not, I must sing, Being of them to whom the Song is given: My only gift in reverent love I bring Before the bowl is shattered, and is riven The chord that binds the spirit to the flesh: I sing because the notes have sought so long, And found at last one soul serene and fresh To bear the burden of eternal song. So for this hour of song I have tuned my lyre Unto the Rose of the Immortal Fire. (x) When I am faded into nothingness, And thou of whomI sing art earth and dust; And when the soul I bear for my distress Is faded in the sun; when love and lust Are nothing to us, dear—my songs shall tell Of all thou wast to those who knew not thee: In the immortal groves of asphodel, They shall seek, drawn onwards by my melody. There shall be no more songs for us, I know, When at the last my throbbing lyre reposes In endless sleep; yet one last rose shall blow Upon our graves, one rose, one Rose of roses. “ Out of his heart a rose, from hers a briar.” O Love! my flame-flower of immortal fire!