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In the Temple of Isis
Published in the Agnostic Journal London, England 29 September 1906 (pages 205-206)
As in thine eyes I gaze, Thy love is as the haze Of early morn; And as the Sun's bright rays Night's dreamy eyes amaze, Thy love is born. Mystic thy form doth rise, Born 'twixt the seas and skies; Eva from Paradise, On earth reborn.
The zephyrs of the air Blow kisses through thy hair, As rising sun, Leaves blushing Dawn all bare, Tearing her night-robe fair— All starry-spun. High soars the Lord of Light; The dismal hosts of Night Towards the West take flight, Thy love is won.
Upon thy lips my kiss, Burns to a fiery bliss, An hour of noon Unveils mystic Isis, The kiss of Osiris Fainting doth swoon. From out the virgin sea, Rises Aphrodite, Boundless as sea-waves free: Sweet honey-moon.
Thy golden hair caressed, Lies tangles o'er my breast; As Phœbus bright Drives slowly towards the West His weary steeds to rest, Midst flaming light. Blue as a virgin's eyes, The sapphire of the skies Blushes, as Evening sighs: "Oh bridal night."
Thy blush dies with the East, Our sorrows are increased To bitter woe. Thy bridal garment creased, Is soiled: Beauty turned Beast; Thou know'st, I know. On veiléd Isis' breast, The crescent moon doth rest Symbol of Love's behest: To melt like snow.
As deep as thy blue eyes Are spread the starry skies, A jewelled dome. The wisdom of the wise Our hearts imparadise O mighty Aüm. Rise, love, from off the Tree Of Good and Evil, we Have eat, and knowing see Shadow and gnome.
Thy lips grow white and cold, My kisses wild and bold As nights are chill: The fleecy clouds of gold Are in black thunder rolled, Foreboding ill. No star, no sun, no moon, No dawn, no morn, no noon— All gone. Life's mystic rune, In death is still.
Awake, my love, for we Sought love unbound and free Through hate and ire. Now, through the clouds we see The being of To Be, Midst flame and fire. Enveloped in a kiss— One Self, one God, 'tis this— Knowledge, past woe or bliss, And past desire.
To live one moment bright, Then perish in the night Without a morn: The sun in all his might Is but a speck of light Through gates of horn. There is no sun, no day, No night, no starry way. No change, no death; for aye Our love is born.
Both echo, and both call; Both player and both ball, To onward roll: The smallest of the small, The great—the boundless all— Both start and goal. O Power without a name, We from thy glory came A spark as from a flame: O mighty Whole.
Chill moment in our life, As flash of sun-kissed knife O mystic Yod. Infuriate whirls the strife, Death's drum, Life's singing fife; Thy flaming rod Falls, 'midst the lightning's flash, The thunder's roar, the crash Of systems as they dash Back to their God.
In name Ineffable, The same Inscrutable As was, and is. Unknown, Unknowable, The All perdurable, Eternal bliss. Kephra, of morning bright; Ra, Lord of noon and might; Turn, welcomer of night: Mystic Isis.
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