THE THREE URGANDAS.

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.