I SAW A SNAKE-GIRT EMBRYON

I saw a snake-girt embryon, crowned and dumb,

Its rigid finger, pointed towards the sky;

From whence the fiery breath of life must come,

That kindles unborn lip and rayless eye.

I saw a demon beagle dark as night,

A shadowy maiden, hounding through the air;

And as she fled she shrieked with wild affright,

And, Mœnad-like, behind her streamed her hair.