| THEIR spirits beat upon mine | |
| Like the wings of a thousand butterflies. | |
| I closed my eyes and felt their spirits vibrating. | |
| I closed my eyes, yet I knew when their lashes | |
| Fringed their cheeks from downcast eyes, | 5 |
| And when they turned their heads; | |
| And when their garments clung to them, | |
| Or fell from them, in exquisite draperies. | |
| Their spirits watched my ecstasy | |
| With wide looks at starry unconcern. | 10 |
| Their spirits looked upon my torture; | |
| They drank it as it were the water of life; | |
| With reddened cheeks, brightened eyes | |
| The rising flame of my soul made their spirits gilt, | |
| Like the wings of a butterfly drifting suddenly into sunlight. | 15 |
| And they cried to me for life, life, life. | |
| But in taking life for myself, | |
| In seizing and crushing their souls, | |
| As a child crushes grapes and drinks | |
| From its palms the purple juice, | 20 |
| I came to this wingless void, | |
| Where neither red, nor gold, nor wine, | |
| Nor the rhythm of life is known. | |
