Madison Cawein - The Three Urgandas lyrics

Cast on sleep there came to me Three Urgandas; and the sea In lost lands of Briogne Sounded moaning, moaning: Cloudy clad in awful white; And each face a lucid light Rayed and blossomed out of night,-- And a wind was groaning. In my sleep I saw them rest, Each a long hand at her breast, A soft flame that lulls the West;-- And the sea was moaning, moaning;-- Hair like hoarded ingots rolled Down white shoulders glossy gold, Streaks of molten moonlight cold,-- And a wind was groaning. Rosy 'round each high brow bent Four-fold starry gold that sent Barbs of fire redolent;-- And the sea was moaning, moaning;-- 'Neath their burning crowns their eyes Burned like southern stars the skies Rock in shattered storm that flies,-- And a wind was groaning. Wisdom's eyes of lurid dark; And each red mouth like a spark Flashed and laughed off care and cark,-- And the sea was moaning, moaning;-- Mouths for song and lips to kiss; Lips for hate and mouths to hiss; Lips that fashioned hell or bliss,-- And the wind was groaning. Tall as stately virgins dead, Tapers lit at feet and head, 'Round whom Latin prayers are said,-- And the sea was moaning, moaning;-- Or as vampire women, who, Buried beauties, rise and woo Youths whose blood they s** like dew,-- And a wind was groaning. Then the west one said to me: "Thou hast slept thus holily While seven sands ran secretly."-- And the sea was moaning, moaning;-- "Earth hath served thee like a slave, Serving us who found thee brave, Fearless of or life or grave."-- And a wind was groaning. "Know!"--she smote my brow; a pain, Riddling arrows, rent my brain, Ceased and earth fell, some vast strain;-- And the sea was moaning, moaning;-- Then I understood all thought; What was life the spirit fraught; Love and hate; how worlds were wrought:-- And a wind was groaning. Then the east one said to me: "Thou hast wandered wearily By what mist-enveloped sea!"-- And the sea was moaning, moaning;-- "Know the things thou hast not seen; Life and law, and love and teen; Things that be and have not been."-- And the wind was groaning. "See!" her voice sung like a lyre Throbs of thunderous desire; Then the iron sight like fire-- And the sea was moaning, moaning;-- Burst; the inner eyelids, which Husked clairvoyance, with a twitch Rose--and I with light was rich;-- And a wind was groaning. Then I saw the eyes of Sleep; Nerves of Life and veins that leap; Laws of entity; the deep:-- And the sea was moaning, moaning;-- Orbs and eons; springs of Power; Circumstance--blown like a flower;-- Time--the second of an hour:-- And the wind was groaning. To the central third one's full Balanced being beautiful Heart, to hearken, made a lull,-- And the sea was moaning, moaning;-- As she sternly stooped to me: "Thou dost know and thou canst see; What thou art arise and be!"-- And the wind was groaning. To my mouth hot lips she pressed; And my famished soul, thrice blessed, Quaffed her radiance and caressed:-- And vague seas were moaning, moaning:-- Mounted; star-vibrating fled; Soared to love, with her who said: "Thou dost live and thou art dead."-- Far off winds were groaning.