The Equinox (Volume I, Number V)

THREE POEMS FOR JANE CHERON Pallid, a mummy throned, she sits ; The Egyptian eyes, the Egyptian hair, The band on her brows, the slender hands, All hieroglyphs of a God’s commands Beyond the rimes that a poet knits With fruitless travail, sterile carei Marvellousl marvellous, marvellous! And again a marvel, at lotus-bud Dropt from the brows of a Goddess unknown On the ivory steps of the golden throne, Virginal brows and luminous With the star-stream flowing therein for blood. Ah, but electric thrills the Host Of the esoteric Eucharist] The Pagan power of the corn and wine Mystical, magical, hers and mine, The dove’plumed snake of the Holy Ghost That wings and writhes in the wounds unkissedl Lie there, love—if I love you indeed Who adore and wonder and faint for drouth Of the passion-flower fallen from the other side Of time and space the tedious tide. Lie there, lie there, and let me bleed To death in the breath of the murderous mouth I 45