HKB
Bringing the tears to my lashes, Sighs to my lips, in the swooning Excess of passion.
O golden-crowned Aphrodite, Grant I shall ever be grateful, Sure of thy favor;
Worthy the lot of thy priestess, Supreme in the song that forever Rings with thy praises.
THE FIRST KISS
And down I set the cushion Upon the couch that she, Relaxed supine upon it, Might give her lips to me.
As some enamored priestess At Aphrodite's shrine, Entranced I bent above her With sense of the divine.
She had, by nature nubile, In years a child, no hint Of any secret knowledge Of passion's least intent.
Her mouth for immolation Was ripe, and mine the art; And one long kiss of passion Deflowered her virgin heart.
ODE TO ATTHIS
I loved you, Atthis, once, long years ago! My blood was flame that thrilled to passion's throe; Now long neglect has quenched the olden fire, And blight of drifting years effaced desire.
I loved you, Atthis--joy of long ago-- Love shook my soul as winds on forests blow; This lawless heart that dared exhaust delight, Unsated strove and maddened through the night.
I loved you, Atthis, once, long years ago! With pain whose surge I felt to anguish grow; Suffered the storms that waste the heart and leave A desert shore where seas but break to grieve.
I loved you, Atthis--spring of long ago-- Watched you depart, to Andromeda go; Then I, as keen despair its shadow cast, O'er my deserted threshold, sobbing, passed.
I loved you, Atthis, once, long years ago! The thought of me is hateful now, I know; And all the lavish tenderness of old Has gone from me and left my bosom cold.
I loved you, Atthis--dream of long ago-- * * * * * * * * * * * * * How the fond words, impassioned music low, Sustain the sigh of love's divine regret No length of time may bid the heart forget.
COMPARISON
Less soft a Tyrian robe Of texture fine, Less delicate a rose Than flesh of thine.
Whiter thy breast than snow That virgin lies, And deeper than the blue Of seas thy eyes.
More golden than the fruit Of orange trees, Thy locks that floating lure The satyr breeze.
Less fine of silver string An Orphic lyre, Less sweet than thy low laugh That wakes desire.
THE SACRIFICE
Upon a cushion soft My limbs I place, My every garment doffed For deeper grace; From burning doves embalmed In baccharis, The scented fumes have calmed Me like a kiss.
Beyond the phallic shrine That tripods light, I pledge with holy wine An image white; Anadyomene, Than foam more fair, When from the ravished sea She rose to air.
Daughter of God, accept These gifts of mine! Last night my body slept In arms divine. These sated lips and eyes That erstwhile sued, Accord this sacrifice In gratitude.
LEDA
Once on a time They say that Leda found Beneath the thyme An egg upon the ground;
And yet the swan She fondled long ago Was whiter than Its shell of peeping snow.
AMŒBEUM: ALCÆUS AND SAPPHO
ALCUSÆUS
Violet-weaving Sappho, pure and lovely, Softly-smiling Sappho, I would utter Something that my secret hope has cherished, Did no painful sense of shame deter me.
SAPPHO
Had the impulse of thy heart been honest, It had urged no evil supplication; Shame had not abashed thy eyes before me, And thy words had done thee no dishonor.
ALCÆUS
Softly-smiling Sappho, longing bids me Tell thee all that in my heart lies hidden.
SAPPHO
Have no fear, Alcæus, to offend me! Thy emotion stirs my heart to pity.
ALCÆUS
I desire thee, violet-weaving Sappho! Love thee madly, softly-smiling Sappho!
SAPPHO
Hush, Alcæus! thou must choose a younger Comrade for thy couch, for I would never Join thy years to mine--the Gods forbid it-- Youth and ardent fire to age and ashes.
THE LOVE OF SELENE
Across the still sea's moonlit wave Selene came Softly to seek the Latmian cave, Her breast aflame