The life-blood of a race that lies

Long dead. The jewels burning in your rings

Are an Egyptian woman's eyes.

Your beads are dead bones; even my breath

Breathes hot words that were others' pain.

Now these fair things are ours awhile, till death

Brings us to quiet sleep again.

Then we shall put our love aside

For lovers of a later birth,

And leave to them this body's fragrant pride,