THEIR spirits beat upon mine Like the wings of a thousand butterflies. I closed my eyes and felt their spirits vibrating. I closed my eyes, yet I knew when their lashes Fringed their cheeks from downcast eyes, And when they turned their heads; And when their garments clung to them, Or fell from them, in exquisite draperies. Their spirits watched my ecstasy With wide looks of starry unconcern. Their spirits looked upon my torture; They drank it as it were the water of life; With reddened cheeks, brightened eyes The rising flame of my soul made their spirits gilt, Like the wings of a butterfly drifting suddenly into sunlight. And they cried to me for life, life, life. But in taking life for myself, In seizing and crushing their souls, As a child crushes grapes and drinks From its palms the purple juice, I came to this wingless void, Where neither red, nor gold, nor wine, Nor the rhythm of life is known. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...CARILLON by HENRY WADSWORTH LONGFELLOW THE LITTLE HILL by EDNA ST. VINCENT MILLAY TO MY SISTER by WILLIAM WORDSWORTH PARODY OF A SHROPSHIRE LAD by HENRY MAXIMILIAN BEERBOHM THE BATTLE-FIELD OF RASZYN by KAZIMIERZ BRODZINSKI |