Drink and dance and laugh and lie,

Upon a broken stem.I heard them say, ‘What need to careWith roses budding everywhere?’I did not answer them.There was a bird, brought down to die;They said, ‘A hundred fill the sky-What reason to be sad?’There was a girl, whose lover fled;I did not wait, the while they said,‘There’s many another lad.’

And neither you nor I was sadWhen that was through and done.But when, one day, a boy comes byAnd pleads me with your happiest vow,‘There was a lad I knew–‘ I’ll sigh,‘I do not know him now.’And when another girl shall passAnd speak a little name I said,Then you will say, ‘There was a lass-I…

But my heart drags down with an ancient load-My heart, that a second before was flying.I never behold the quivering rain-And sweeter the rain than a lover to me-But my heart is wild in my breast with pain;My heart, that was tapping contentedly.There’s never a rose spreads new at my doorNor a strange bird crosses…

And took my dearest thoughts to you,And hailed your easy lies as true;Were I to murmur ‘Yes,’ and then‘How true, my dear,’ and ‘Yes,’ again,And wear my eyes discreetly down,And tremble whitely at your frown,And keep my words unquestioningMy love, you’d run like anything!Should I be frail, and I be mad,And share my heart with…

I’m Judith, and Jael, and Madame de Stael;I’m Salome, moon of the East.Here in my soul I am Sappho;Lady Hamilton am I, as well.In me Recamier vies with Kitty O’Shea,With Dido, and Eve, and poor Nell.I’m of the glamorous ladiesAt whose beckoning history shook.But you are a man, and see only my pan,So I stay…

Link on link, between my wrists,Now my heavy freedom’s hanging.