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THE RITES OF ELEUSIS
They change, they grow, they shake
As sunlight on the lake:
They hiss, they glisten on her bosom bare.
0 maiden, maiden queen!
The lightning flows between
Thy mounting breasts, too magically fair.
Draw me, 0 draw me to a dreaming death
!
Send out thine opiate breath,
And lull me to the everlasting sleep,
That, closing from the kisses of disdain
To ecstasy of pain,
I may sob out my life into their dangerous deep.
Who cometh from the mountain as a tower
Stalwart and set against the fiery foes?
Who, breathing as a jasmine—laden bower?
Who, crowned and lissome as a living rose?
Sharp thorns in thee are set ;
In me, in me beget
The dolorous despair of this desire.
Thy body sways and swings
Above the tide of things,
Laps me as ocean, wraps me round as fire!
Ye elemental sorceries ofsong,
Surge, strenuous and strong,
Seeking dead dreams, the secret of the shrine;
So that she drain my life and being up
As from a golden cup,
Το mingle in her blood, death’s kiss incarnadine,
Who cometh from the ocean as a flower?
Who blossometh above the barren sea,
Thy lotus set beneath thee for a bower,
Thine eyes awakened, lightened, fallen on me?
O Goddess, queen, and wife!
O Lady of my life!
Who set thy stature as a wood to wave?
Whose love begat thy limbs ?
Whose wave~washed body swims
That nurtured thee, and found herselfa grave?