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I.

 

Cold sweep of lightless gulf – now I decline,

I dwell on thee. The meek sky peels her robes,

Showing the living organs of thy life;

And we on moonless lengths, or ’neath a moon,

Like thee lie skinless, whilst our slumber shows

Strange organs of one’s soul, in empty rooms.

 

II.

 

A raven passes o’er the sodden land,

And thou in black cloaks creepest from the east,

To cover hill and low place with thy hand

Which bringeth peace to those of innocence –

But restlessness to guilty, sleepless grief,

Who watch their sins amidst thy voids immense.

 

III.

 

One eve I heard a clock – it was thy heart, 

Which quickened even as the sun expired,

And lived as long as world remained in dark;

But in the morning’s flame, thy heart was burnt –

A silent hourless blaze, a sacred fire

Which speaks thy soul, e’en while thou sleep’st ’neath earth.

 

IV.

 

Chaos thy mother was, and thou dost bide

Amongst Tartarus’ roots, where swarm thou bred’st

Of insect dreams which scuttle o’er men’s minds,

While Discord eke from thy loins did descend:

Such fearsome child – yet she undid her dread,

For that harsh goddess birthed Forgetfulness.

 

V.

 

The great thing waits, and dawn o’ercomes it not,

Nor any light man nurtures. Oft with thee

Have I descended where wights weep their loss

Of dear souls’ sweetness – there ’midst unlit depths,

Where earth’s and heaven’s arches ’gin their sweep

And set back down upon thy darksome breast.

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