BLASPHEMY
O FAIRY form, O flower-like face,
O piteous tender breast,
Why did you come with your childish grace
And trouble my heart's rest?
The tide, my darling, is bitter and deep
That washes that cruel shore.
The happy lovers are those that sleep
And love not any more.
Calm filmy dreams thro' each tired head
Flow softly, mingle and flow.
The happy lovers are those that are dead.
That died full long ago.
O child, forgive me; I lie, I lie
With an evil blasphemy!
I lie to the clouds in the air above!
I lie to the earth and the sea!
The living, the living must worship love!
The dead, the dead must be.
This work is in the public domain in the United States because it was published before January 1, 1927.
The author died in 1963, so this work is also in the public domain in countries and areas where the copyright term is the author's life plus 50 years or less. This work may also be in the public domain in countries and areas with longer native copyright terms that apply the rule of the shorter term to foreign works.