("O you mad, you superbly drunk!...")

In the gloom of the deepening night take up my

heart and play with it as you list. Bind me close to you

with nothing.

I will spread myself out at your feet and lie still.

Under this clouded sky I will meet silence with silence.

I will become one with the night clasping the earth in

my breast.

Make my life glad with nothing.

The rains sweep the sky from end to end. Jasmines

in the wet untamable wind revel in their own perfume.

The cloud-hiddea stars thrill in secret. Let me fill to

the full my heart with nothing but my own depth of joy.

II

My soul is alight with your infinitude of stars. Your

world has broken upon me like a flood. The flowers of

your garden blossom in my body. The joy of life that

is everywhere burns like an incense in my heart. And

the breath of all things plays on my life as on a pipe of

reeds.

IV

O you mad, you superbly drunk!

If you kick open your doors and play the fool in public;

If you empty your bag in a night, and snap your fingers

at prudence;

If you walk in curious paths and play with useless things;

Reck not rhyme or reason;

Poems

If you break the rudder in two unfurling your sails before

the storm:

Then I will follow you, comrade, and be drunken and go

to the dogs.

I have wasted my days and nights in the company of

steady wise neighbors.

Much knowing has turned my hair grey, and much watch-

ing has made my sight dim.

For years I have gathered and heaped all scraps and

fragments of things;

Crush them and dance upon them, and scatter them all

to the winds!

For I know 'tis the height of wisdom to be drunken and

go to the dogs.

Let all crooked scruples vanish, let me hopelessly lose

my way.

Let a gust of wild giddiness come and sweep me away

from my anchors.

The world is peopled with worthies, and workers useful

and clever;

There are men who are easily the first, and men who come

decently next:

Let them be happy and prosperous, and let me be fool-

ishly futile.

For I know 'tis the end of all works to be drunken and

go to the dogs.

I swear to surrender this moment all claim to the ranks

of the sensible.

I let go my pride of learning and judgment of right and

of wrong.

VII shatter the vessel of memory, scattering the last drop

of tears;

With the foam of the ruby red wine, I'll bathe and

brighten my laughter.

The badge of the proper and prim I'll tear into shreds

for the nonce.

Tl take the holy vow of being worthless, and be drunken

and go to the dogs.

Vv

Leave off your works, bride. Listen, the guest has come.

Do you hear, he is gently shaking the fastening chain of

the door?

Let not your anklets be loud, and your steps be too hur-

ried to meet him.

Leave off your works, bride, the guest has come, in the

evening.

No, it is not the wind, bride. Do not be frightened.

It is the full-moon night of April, shadows are pale in

the court-yard, the sky overhead is bright.

Draw your veil over your face if you must, take the lamp

from your room if you fear.

No, it is not the wind, bride; do not be frightened.