liber963

THE TREASURE-HOUSE OF IMAGES
merriment may revel as a moon-white pearl upon my
tongue.
6. O Thou midnight Vision of Whiteness, whose lips are
as pouting rosebuds deflowered by the deciduous moon; tend
me as a drop of dew in Thy breast, so that the dragon of Thy
gluttonous hate may devour me with its mouth of adamant.
7. O Thou effulgence of burning love, who pursueth the
dawn as a youth pursueth a rose-lipped maiden; rend me
with the fierce kisses of Thy mouth, so that in the battle of
our lips I may be drenched by the snow-pure fountains of
Thy bliss.
8. O Thou black bull in a field of white girls, whose
foaming flanks are as starry night ravished in the fierce arms
of noon; shake forth the purple horns of my passion, so that
I may dissolve as a crown of fire in the bewilderment of
Thine ecstasy.
9. O Thou dread arbiter of all men, the hem of whose
broidered skirt crimsoneth the white battlements of Space;
bare me the starry nipple of Thy breast, so that the milk of
Thy love may nurture me to the lustiness of Thy virginity.
10. O Thou thirsty charioteer of Time, whose cup is the
hollow night filled with the foam of the vintage of day; drench
me in the shower of Thy passion, so that I may pant in Thine
arms as a tongue of lightning on the purple bosom of night.
11. O Thou opalescent Serpent-Queen, whose mouth is as
the sunset that is bloody with the slaughter of day; hold me in
the crimson flames of Thine arms, so that at Thy kisses I may
expire as a bubble in the foam of Thy dazzling lips.
12. O Thou Odalisque of earth’s palace, whose garments
are scented and passionate as spring flowers in sunlit glades;
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