ATONEMENT

Through flamelit Hades

To win a realm,

I rode with my lady's

Sleeve on my helm.

With fiends around me

And fiends before,

I rode, and found me

At an iron door.

My pulses hammered.

I clubbed my spear

And knocked. Fiends clamored.

I felt Man's fear

When mysteries awe him.

The door, with din,

Swung wide. I saw him

Who sat therein.

Oh, amaranthine

Are Love's estates,

But Rhadamanthine

The Judge awaits.

My blazon and banner

He stared them through

And said, “What manner

Of man are you?”

I stood stripped naked,

Stark to atone.

My body achèd

Through every bone.

A blast blew through me.

I drank black gall.

I saw he knew me.

I told him all.

“The heart I stare in

Is black as night,”

He said, “but therein

There burns a light.

White hands encore it

To guard its grace,

And strangely o'er it

Bends a still face.

“Small light — great wonder!

Through all my hall

You flash asunder

The murky pall.

Walls grow unreal —

All Hell a wraith,—

Oh white, ideal

Flame of her faith!”

“Here I surrender,

White flame of trust!

Knave, strike some splendor

From this your dust.

Oh gross, weak, dumb thing,

Rise — dare a part!

For here — is something

That breaks my heart!”