With flame and with flake,

The chords of existence, the instrument star-sprung.

Whose frame is of clay, so wonderfully molded from mire.

III

Vested with vanquishment, come, O Desire, Desire!

Breathe in this harp of my soul the audible angel of love!

Make of my heart an Israfel burning above,

[20]

A lute for the music of God, that lips, which are mortal, but stammer!

Smite every rapturous wire

With golden delirium, rebellion and silvery clamor,

Crying—"Awake! awake!

Too long hast thou slumbered! too far from the regions of glamour,

With its mountains of magic, its fountains of Faëry, the spar-sprung,

Hast thou wandered away, O Heart!

Come, oh, come and partake

Of necromance banquets of beauty; and slake

Thy thirst in the waters of art,

That are drawn from the streams

Of love and of dreams.

 Prev. P 34/139 next