Shades of Hell

Withdraw, my love: the promise is pain: such death and lucre
And terrible shame; and holdfast, my love: the promise is
Flame: such life and wealth and vines and grains; but so undone,
A feathered thorn; and such afire—the lust of fools; and dance

The heart—a fallen bridge; and love the sky—the hope of
Dreams; for pain and groves; and groves of pain; and mirrors
Gnaw—the conscience brain; and fervor sweet—the richest love;
And dazzle fair—the air of love; but hallowed death—a creek

And crane; and mournful breath—a geisha’s pain; but close
The door—ignore the draft; and graft a grid—of brilliant hats;
And face the wind—the glen of time; and love the rain—of wars
Divine; and pine and pine and pine some more; and yank the
Drapes—a bleeding core; and evermore—a fairy gale: a poison
Sweet: the shades of hell.