IT was Egypt when I loved you. I was standing in the temple 'Neath the paws of Seonatis, She the Stone One, with a woman's Face upon a panther's body. Now the sands of countless ages Hide the shrine where I beheld you. I was quick with life and visions You were rarer than the lotus. Night had woven you your tresses, Isis' self had planned your bosom. And your eyes were deep with passion Deep and sloe and all a'smoulder. I was sworn to her, the Stone One— Priest was I—but you, a @3woman.@1 Then you came again and after 'Til they found us. When I saw you Here to-night, the past spake "EGYPT!" I have wakened and I call you— You were mine 'neath Seonatis And we slept within her bosom, breast to breast, The Sleep of Mnevis. Come—I cry you back to Egypt! 'T is the soul call and you heed it, For your eyes are strange with mystery, Trembling with the self that slumbered Numb until Osiris judged me. As at Gizeh, they will stone us. They who loved us, most will hate us. 'T is the LAW—the thread the weaklings Spun to hold their weak together— Fools! They think to bind this God-Thing With their puny thongs and leashes! | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...SEVEN TWILIGHTS: 3 by CONRAD AIKEN CONTRA MORTEM: THE BEING AS MEMORY by HAYDEN CARRUTH THEY ACCUSE ME OF NOT TALKING by HAYDEN CARRUTH SPRINGTIME by GEORGIA DOUGLAS JOHNSON OCTAVES: 12 by EDWIN ARLINGTON ROBINSON |