VII
There is a respite—we must part anon.
Short are the hours of sweetness: it is well.
Could such a bout of murder carry on
We should drink poison and awake in hell;
Or being but mortal, or nearly mortal, yield
Exhausted spirit to the clamant flesh;
The book of common love should be unsealed,
And we be caught within the common mesh
That catches common folk. O God! bite hard!
Smite down rebellious flesh with hideous pain!
Bite hard! Smite hard! By bruises scarred and marred
Love this exultant face! Again! Again!
O Lola! Lola! Lola! Kiss me, Kiss!
Nay—nay! Kiss not! I cannot bear the bliss.
Short are the hours of sweetness: it is well.
Could such a bout of murder carry on
We should drink poison and awake in hell;
Or being but mortal, or nearly mortal, yield
Exhausted spirit to the clamant flesh;
The book of common love should be unsealed,
And we be caught within the common mesh
That catches common folk. O God! bite hard!
Smite down rebellious flesh with hideous pain!
Bite hard! Smite hard! By bruises scarred and marred
Love this exultant face! Again! Again!
O Lola! Lola! Lola! Kiss me, Kiss!
Nay—nay! Kiss not! I cannot bear the bliss.
— 73 —
