Ambergris

50 AMBERGRIS Yea ! from the limit of the fallen day, And barren ocean of ungathered Time, Bring Night, and bring Eternity, and stay With white wings pointing where tired feet may climb : Even the pathway where shed blood ran deep To build red roses in the land of Sleep. O guardian of the pallid hours of night ! O tireless watcher of the smitten noon ! O sworded with the majesty of light, O girded with the glory of the moon ! Angel of absolute splendour ! link of mine Old weary spirit with the All-Divine ! Ship that shalt carry me by many winds Driven on limitless ocean ! Mighty sword, By which I force that barrier of the mind’s Miscomprehension of its own true lord ! Listen, and answer, and behold my brow Fiery with hope ! Bend down, and touch it now ! Press the twin dawn of thy desirous lips In the swart masses of my hair ; bend close, And shroud all earth in masterless eclipse, While my heart’s murmur though thy being flows, To carry up the prayer, as incense teems Skyward, to those immeasurable streams ! Breathe the creative Sigh upon my mouth That even the body may become the soul : Cry, as the chain’d Eagle of the South, “ A house of death,” and make my spirit whole ! Touch with pure balm the five mysterious wounds ! Come ! come away ! but not your mighty sounds ! O wind of all the world ! O silent river ! O sea of seas ! O flower of all the flowers ! O fire ! O spirit ! Beam thou on for ever Through æons of illimitable hours !