The love that caught strange light from death's own eyes.
And filled death's lips with fiery words and sighs.
And, half asleep, let feed from veins of his
Her close, red, warm snake's-mouth, Egyptian-wise:
And that great night of love more strange than this,
When she that made the whole world's bale and bliss
Made king of the whole world's desire a slave
And killed him in mid-kingdom with a kiss.
"Memorial verses on the death of Théophile Gautier"
