Page:Al Que Quiere.djvu/82

 In her will to be young she had covered The godhead to go beside me. Silent, her voice entered at my eyes And my astonished thought followed her easily: “Well, do their eyes shine, do their clothes fit? These live I tell you! Old men with red cheeks, Young men in gay suits! See them! Dogged, quivering, impassive— Well—are these the ones you envied?” At which I answered her, “Marvelous old queen, Grant me power to catch something of this day's Air and sun into your service! That these toilers after peace and after pleasure May turn to you, worshippers at all hours!” But she sniffed upon the words warily— Yet I persisted, watching for an answer: “To you, horrible old woman, Who know all fires out of the bodies Of all men that walk with lust at heart! To you, O mighty, crafty prowler After the youth of all cities, drunk With the sight of thy archness! All the youth That come to you, you having the knowledge Rather than to those uninitiate— To you, marvelous old queen, give me always A new marriage—” But she laughed loudly— “A new grip upon those garments that brushed me In days gone by on beach, lawn, and in forest! May I be lifted still, up and out of terror,