"That Walk in Darkness"

By George Sterling

Not when the sun is captain of the skies,
    Nor when the sapphire-dwelling moon divine
    Arrows with light the battlements of pine,
Roams Lilith, she whom raptures have made wise;
But one shall see her with enchanted eyes
    When starlight makes mysterious her shrine,
    That whoso drinks her beauty's golden wine
Shall lose his hope and need of Paradise.

And though the cruel vision smite him blind,
    Yet more than they who mourn him is he whole
        On whom her sorceries have burst in flood,—
To whom her lips are offered, that he find
    Her kiss a consternation to the soul
        And scarlet trumpets pealing in the blood.
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