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 | The poems of Madison Cawein |  |
126
THE WORLD'S DESIRE
The roses of voluptuousness
Wreathe her dark locks and hide her eyes;
Her limbs are flower-like nakedness,
Wherethrough the fragrant blood doth press,
The blossom-blood of Paradise.
Wreathe her dark locks and hide her eyes;
Her limbs are flower-like nakedness,
Wherethrough the fragrant blood doth press,
The blossom-blood of Paradise.
She stands with Lilith finger-tips,
With Lilith hands; and gathers up
The grapes of life; whose wine she sips,—
With Lilith-laughter-lightened lips,—
The soul, as from a curious cup.
With Lilith hands; and gathers up
The grapes of life; whose wine she sips,—
With Lilith-laughter-lightened lips,—
The soul, as from a curious cup.
What though she cast the cup away!
The empty bowl that flashed with wine!
Her lips' wild kiss, that stained the clay,
Her hands' hot clasp—shall these not stay,
That made its nothingness divine?
The empty bowl that flashed with wine!
Her lips' wild kiss, that stained the clay,
Her hands' hot clasp—shall these not stay,
That made its nothingness divine?
Through one again shall live the glow,
Immortalizing, of her touch;
And through the other, sweet to know
How life swept, flame once, 'neath the snow
Of her moon'd breasts—and this is much!
Immortalizing, of her touch;
And through the other, sweet to know
How life swept, flame once, 'neath the snow
Of her moon'd breasts—and this is much!
| The poems of Madison Cawein | |