RAHAB

Rahab hath vermilion lips, Breasts of ivory, and her hips Taper down to little feet That go dancing on the street.

Gossips call dear Rahab bold; Say her love is bought for gold, Barters kisses for a purse: Well, some women have done worse!

Saw you ever Rahab's eyes — All the blue of Canaan's skies Smiles a moment, and you see Beauty's best in Galilee.

Heard you ever Rahab's song, You would murmur: “Surely wrong Lives not in that lovely voice — I with Rahab will rejoice!”

I came up the winding way Through the vines at shut of day Out of Orphir, bearing balms; And I saw among the palms

Rahab wistful by the wall: She was slender, she was tall, And I trembled as her eyes Turned on me in swift surprise.

Tyrian purple was her gown; Gold her girdle; and a crown Made of myrtle held her hair Oval on her forehead fair;

Little sandals shod her feet. Rahab, smiling, murmured: “Greet You, my brother! Are you come, Laden with sweet spice and gum,

“Out of Orphir?” and I said: “Rahab!” All the evening shed Light and perfume on her face Turned to me, I paused a space,

Breathless. Nothing I could say But her name. A dear dismay Of her beauty made me mute, Like a stringless harp or lute!

Then she laughed at me and flung High her hands! She tipped her tongue Saucily and danced along — Feet in fellowship with song.

I pursued her through the vines Growing where the bank confines Jordan; followed her until I forgot my master's will —

Master of the Caravan Out of Orphir! As I ran, Love arose and went with me Through the grapes of Galilee!

Little leaves laughed as I sped After Rahab. Overhead Two white doves were on the wing, And I heard a throstle sing.

Where my feet fell on the brown, Furrowed vineyard, shaken down By her body from the vine, Grapes were crushed to make me wine!

Day was gazing from the west On high Hermon with confessed Love of her whose ample brow Crimsoned; and from every bough

Twilight twitterings were heard. How my pulses leaped and stirred — Wild with longing for her lips, Like two red pomegranate pips!

I stretched forth my hands and cried: “Rahab!” and she turned aside From the vineyard where a wood Near a purple wine-press stood.

There she paused and looked on me, Laughing: “Boy, what do you see In my eyes, you tremble so?” “Fate!” I answered. “Could you know,

“Rahab, what is in my heart, You would pity, you would part With one kiss and one caress Here beside the purple press!”

“Boy,” she murmured, “gossips say Rahab's poisoned lips will slay Whom she kisses; that her breasts Are two hidden adders’ nests!”

“Though I die upon your mouth, Kiss me, Rahab! for the drouth Of the desert makes my soul Empty as an empty bowl.

“Dreary days of journeying Where the sands go billowing Miles and miles beneath the sun Leave me broken and undone.

“All my youth was in the sere, Dim the eye and deaf the ear Unto beauty until now; Rahab, harken to my vow:

“Give me vision, give me sense Of lost beauty's immanence — Give me these and I will pay, Careless of what gossips say,

“All you ask in turn for this: Soul of you within one Kiss!” Rahab's eyes were suddenly Misted over, and to me

Came her whisper: “O my Heart! Take the minstrel's gift — his art — With my lips on yours; the price Be your spirit's sacrifice —

“Pain of vision! You shall know Summits of eternal snow, Depths of fire! You shall be torn, Twixt the twilight and the morn,

“By strange dreams of angel-faces Bending from their starry places, Blent with devils out of hell!” Rahab kissed me —! Lo, there fell

Veils of violet and gold From the sunset — fold on fold — Till the tangled vines were caught And with mist the fields were fraught;

Notes that I had never heard In the tall bulrushes stirred, Trembled from the swaying trees, Fluting strange, wild melodies.

Rahab's kiss and tender glance Taught me earth's significance; Opened wide eternal doors, Where the flood of beauty pours

Out of heaven! out of God! Quickening the stone and clod, Leaf and shrub and bird and beast For the artist — nature's priest,

Sleepless when her altar lights Burn through balmy summer nights, Wakeful when upon the day Pours the pollen smoke alway!

Rahab kissed me by the press — Bound me with dear Love's duress — Laughed and clapped her hands in glee Mid the grapes of Galilee.