90 
AMBERGRIS 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Rosa Mundi 
 
1.  Rose of the world ! 
Red glory of the secret heart of love ! 
Red flame, rose red, most subtly curled 
Into its own infinite flower, all flowers above ! 
Its flower in its own perfumed passion, 
Its faint sweet passion, folded and furled 
In flower fashion ; 
And my deep spirit taking its pure part 
Of that voluptuous heart 
Of hidden happiness ! 
 
2.  Arise, strong bow of the young child Eros ! 
(While the maddening moonlight, the memoried caress 
Stolen of the scented rose 
Stirs me and bids each racing pulse ache, ache !) 
Bend into an agony of art 
Whose cry is ever rapture, and whose tears 
For their own purity’s undivided sake 
Are molten dew, as, on the lotus leaves 
Silver-coiled in the Sun 
Into green-girded spheres 
Purer than all a maiden’s dream enweaves, 
Lies the unutterable beauty of 
The Waters.  Yea, arise, divinest dove 
Of the Idalian, on your crimson wings 
And soft grey plumes, bear me to yon cool shrine 
Of that most softly-spoken one, 
Mine Aphrodite !  Touch the imperfect strings, 
O thou, immortal, throned above the moon ! 
Inspire a holy tune 
Lighter and lovelier than flowers and wine 
Offered in gracious gardens unto Pan 
By any soul of man !