The Sacrifice

Upon a cushion soft My limbs I place, My every garment doffed For deeper grace; From burning doves embalmed In baccharis, The scented fumes have calmed Me like a kiss.

Beyond the phallic shrine That tripods light, I pledge with holy wine An image white; Anadyomene, Than foam more fair, When from the ravished sea She rose to air.

Daughter of God, accept These gifts of mine! Last night my body slept In arms divine. These sated lips and eyes That erstwhile sued, Accord this sacrifice In gratitude.

LEDA

Once on a time They say that Leda found Beneath the thyme An egg upon the ground;

And yet the swan She fondled long ago Was whiter than Its shell of peeping snow.

AMŒBEUM: ALCÆUS AND SAPPHO

ALCUSÆUS

Violet-weaving Sappho, pure and lovely, Softly-smiling Sappho, I would utter Something that my secret hope has cherished, Did no painful sense of shame deter me.

SAPPHO

Had the impulse of thy heart been honest, It had urged no evil supplication; Shame had not abashed thy eyes before me, And thy words had done thee no dishonor.

ALCÆUS

Softly-smiling Sappho, longing bids me Tell thee all that in my heart lies hidden.

SAPPHO

Have no fear, Alcæus, to offend me! Thy emotion stirs my heart to pity.

ALCÆUS

I desire thee, violet-weaving Sappho! Love thee madly, softly-smiling Sappho!

SAPPHO

Hush, Alcæus! thou must choose a younger Comrade for thy couch, for I would never Join thy years to mine--the Gods forbid it-- Youth and ardent fire to age and ashes.