O, how I leaped from peak to peak to find
The path to the azure dance-hall of the world,
Whose dome is gemmed, whose portals are empearled
With hearts that melt and crystallize and shine—
With frozen music, frozen beads of wine—
And whose laughter echoes through the spinning spheres,
Where we were taught to dance in former years.
Yea, I, who lit Thine altar, as a boy,
And nursed in incense fumes my vision of joy,
And like a roebuck learned across the rills,
And danced like sparks of sunlight o'er the hills,
To be, at early morn and eventide,
The first of acolytes that served with pride
Thy venerable priests, alas! one day,
Casting my shame and piety aside,
I snuffed the candies out and walked away
Into the dazzling night of dance and song,
Into the temple of the merry throng.
And ever since, a fugitive from Thee,
Shod with Thy lightning, chuckling oft with glee,
Unburdened and unfettered and undaunted,
With naught, not e'en my shamelessness to hide.
And only by beguiling Beauty haunted,
I trod the path of demiurgic pride.
Yea, I was proud. when in the dawn's desire
1 could command the fruit of every tree,
The bloom of every garden, and the fire
Of every passion, every ecstacy
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