YOU BID ME TO SLEEP

You bid me to sleep,—

But why, O Daughter of Beauty,

Was beauty thus born in the world?

Since out of these shadowy eyes

The wonder shall pass!

And out of this surging and passionate breast

The dream shall depart!

And out of these delicate rivers of warmth

The fire shall wither and fail!

And youth like a bird from your body shall fly!

And Time like a fang on your flesh shall feed!

And this perilous bosom that pulses with love

Shall go down to the dust from which it arose,—

Yet Daughter of Beauty, close,

Close to its sumptuous warmth

You hold my sorrowing head,

And smile with shadowy eyes,

And bid me to sleep again!