Poems (Taylor)/The Daughter of Herodias
THE DAUGHTER OF HERODIAS
The Daughter of Herodias,
She danced before the king:
That rain of ecstasy she was
Whose silver and fantastic feet
Flash down the ways of Spring.
She danced before the king:
That rain of ecstasy she was
Whose silver and fantastic feet
Flash down the ways of Spring.
The Daughter of Herodias,
Magician loveliest!
What music clave unto her,—as
A star within her love-locks sweet,
A heart upon her breast!
Magician loveliest!
What music clave unto her,—as
A star within her love-locks sweet,
A heart upon her breast!
The Daughter of Herodias,
Like waves before the moon,
Like ringing rimes a dreamer has
Lured to a lay of lover-folk,
Swayed softly to the tune.
Like waves before the moon,
Like ringing rimes a dreamer has
Lured to a lay of lover-folk,
Swayed softly to the tune.
The Daughter of Herodias,
She danced in gold and red
Upon the floors of chrysophras:—
The light of flaming cities broke
Behind her sumptuous head.
She danced in gold and red
Upon the floors of chrysophras:—
The light of flaming cities broke
Behind her sumptuous head.
The Daughter of Herodias,
Resplendent, unappalled,
Wove such a spell, it came to pass
She drew the soul down sounding seas
Of pearl and emerald.
Resplendent, unappalled,
Wove such a spell, it came to pass
She drew the soul down sounding seas
Of pearl and emerald.
O Daughter of Herodias,
What horror of the deep,
What slime of impure things!—Alas!
What loathing loathed captivities
In that abysmal sleep!
What horror of the deep,
What slime of impure things!—Alas!
What loathing loathed captivities
In that abysmal sleep!