Spells and Incantations

A vague pearl, a wan pearl

You showed me once; I peered through far-gone winters

Until my mind was fog-bound in that gem.

Blue diamonds, cold diamonds

You shook before me, so that out of them

Glittered and glowed vast diamond dawns of spring.

Tiger-eyed rubies, wrathful rubies

You rolled. I watched their hot hearts fling

Flames from each glaring summer of my life.

Quiet amber, mellow amber

You lifted; and behold the whole air rife

With evening, and the auburn autumn cloud.

But pale skin, your pearl skin

Show this to me, and I shall have surprise

Of every snow-lit dawn before it break.

But clear eyes, your fresh eyes

Open; that I may laugh, and lightly take

All air of early April in one hour.

But brown curls, O shadow me with curls,

Full of September mist, half-gleam, half-glower,

And I shall roam warm nights in lands far south.