Cast on sleep there came to me
Three Urgandas; and the sea
In lost lands of Briogne
Sounded moaning, moaning:
Cloudy clad in awful white;
And each face a lucid light
Rayed and blossomed out of night,--
And a wind was groaning.
In my sleep I saw them rest,
Each a long hand at her breast,
A soft flame that lulls the West;--
And the sea was moaning, moaning;--
Hair like hoarded ingots rolled
Down white shoulders glossy gold,
Streaks of molten moonlight cold,--
And a wind was groaning.
Rosy 'round each high brow bent
Four-fold starry gold that sent
Barbs of fire redolent;--
And the sea was moaning, moaning;--
'Neath their burning crowns their eyes
Burned like southern stars the skies
Rock in shattered storm that flies,--
And a wind was groaning.
Wisdom's eyes of lurid dark;
And each red mouth like a spark
Flashed and laughed off care and cark,--
And the sea was moaning, moaning;--
Mouths for song and lips to kiss;
Lips for hate and mouths to hiss;
Lips that fashioned hell or bliss,--
And the wind was groaning.
Tall as stately virgins dead,
Tapers lit at feet and head,
'Round whom Latin prayers are said,--
And the sea was moaning, moaning;--
Or as vampire women, who,
Buried beauties, rise and woo
Youths whose blood they suck like dew,--
And a wind was groaning.
Then the west one said to me:
"Thou hast slept thus holily
While seven sands ran secretly."--
And the sea was moaning, moaning;--
"Earth hath served thee like a slave,
Serving us who found thee brave,
Fearless of or life or grave."--
And a wind was groaning.
"Know!"--she smote my brow; a pain,
Riddling arrows, rent my brain,
Ceased and earth fell, some vast strain;--
And the sea was moaning, moaning;--
Then I understood all thought;
What was life the spirit fraught;
Love and hate; how worlds were wrought:--
And a wind was groaning.
Then the east one said to me:
"Thou hast wandered wearily
By what mist-enveloped sea!"--
And the sea was moaning, moaning;--
"Know the things thou hast not seen;
Life and law, and love and teen;
Things that be and have not been."--
And the wind was groaning.
"See!" her voice sung like a lyre
Throbs of thunderous desire;
Then the iron sight like fire--
And the sea was moaning, moaning;--
Burst; the inner eyelids, which
Husked clairvoyance, with a twitch
Rose--and I with light was rich;--
And a wind was groaning.
Then I saw the eyes of Sleep;
Nerves of Life and veins that leap;
Laws of entity; the deep:--
And the sea was moaning, moaning;--
Orbs and eons; springs of Power;
Circumstance--blown like a flower;--
Time--the second of an hour:--
And the wind was groaning.
To the central third one's full
Balanced being beautiful
Heart, to hearken, made a lull,--
And the sea was moaning, moaning;--
As she sternly stooped to me:
"Thou dost know and thou canst see;
What thou art arise and be!"--
And the wind was groaning.
To my mouth hot lips she pressed;
And my famished soul, thrice blessed,
Quaffed her radiance and caressed:--
And vague seas were moaning, moaning:--
Mounted; star-vibrating fled;
Soared to love, with her who said:
"Thou dost live and thou art dead."--
Far off winds were groaning.
