Ah, how can fear sit and hear as love hears it grief's heart's cracked
grate's screech?
Chance lets the gate sway that opens on hate's way and shews on shame's
beach
Crouched like an imp sly change watch sweet love's shrimps lie, a
toothful in each.

IV

Time feels his tooth slip on husks wet from Truth's lip, which drops
them and grins--
Shells where no throb stirs of life left in lobsters since joy thrilled
their fins--
Hues of the prawn's tail or comb that makes dawn stale, so red for our
sins!


V

Years blind and deaf use the soul's joys as refuse, heart's peace as
manure,
Reared whence, next June's rose shall bloom where our moons rose last
year, just as pure:
Moons' ends match roses' ends: men by beasts' noses' ends mete sin's
stink's cure.


VI

Leaves love last year smelt now feel dead love's tears melt--flies