Ambergris

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 !