For at Bethlehem the groaning world's desire For spring, that burned from Egypt up to Tyre, And from Tyre to Athens beheld an epiphany of fire: The flesh fade flower-like while the soul kept breath Beyond the body's death, Even as nature which revives; In consummation of the faith That Tammuz, the Soul, survives, And is not sacrificed In the darkness where the dust Lies on the bolt and on the floor, And passes not behind the iron door Save it be followed by the lover Christ, The Ishtar of the faithful trust, Who knocks and says: "This soul, which winter knew In life, in death at last, Finds spring through me, and waters fresh and blue. For lo, the winter is past; The rain is over and gone. I open! It is dawn!" TYRANNOSAURUS: OR BURNING LETTERS Trees of the forest ground to pulp, Rolled into sheets and rabbit tracked With nut-gall or with nigrosine-- Then look at spirits thrill, or gulp A lost delight, a rising spleen For love that grew intense or slacked... Here are the letters, torn in bits, Crammed in the basket, look how full! Our little fireplace scarce admits So much that once was beautiful. Here where we sat and dreamed together In March, and now when we should be Friends in the glory of June weather, We tear our letters up--oh, me! Call Jane to take the basket down, And throw these on the furnace fire. Let ashes drift about the town Of what was our desire! What are we to the gods, I wonder? Perhaps two crickets in the grass, Who meet and drop their stomachs' plunder To touch antennæ as they pass. So kissing in such soul communion The gardener's step is heard, and quick The crickets break their spirits' union, Hide under logs or bits of brick. Does guilty conscience stir the crickets? What does he care? Why not a snap. He's trimming out the hazel thickets For a tennis court and shooting trap.... You are afraid of God! Not that? Some step has frightened you, I know. Well, then it's gossip the alley-cat. At least our hands grow cold as snow, Relax their touch, and then we come, Tear up the letters, sit and stare Some moments, wholly dumb!