THE ALIEN

A petal drifted loose

From a great magnolia bloom,

Your face hung in the gloom,

Floating, white and close.

We seemed alone: but another

Bent o'er you with lips of flame,

Unknown, without a name,

Hated, and yet my brother.

Your one short moan of pain

Was an exorcising spell:

The devil flew back to hell;

We were alone again.