The lust of the sailor for new lands, the lust of the boat new-launched for the turbulent, foaming, sky-running waters— Lust ever and ever I thus. I stand in the ring of the earth and lust for the rings above and beyond that widen into great monstrous nooses in the pits of azure and opal till my glance is lost in the fire-capped zenith⼀ Lust with my eyes and my ears, lascivious of all things unguessed, all things not conquered. I lust for the Strength that runneth before and purge myself of the close-clinging, stiffening muds of old custom, running the fine needle of my quickening Desire through a million ephemeral nuclei, Thrust to the core of each vanishing truth. My lusts hold me taut and redeem me of pain, andI sigh and I sob and I laugh in the ear of the LOVED ONE, spread on the winds, locked in the blast, till she yield and diswomb her last secret— She, my finality, target of lusts, peeping here, peeping there, ever lost, ever gained—I come at her again and again on the arrows of Time.
Publication History
The Shadow-Eater [1915/17 and 1923]
1923 Edition Text Changes
- new lands, the lust > new lands, ⁋ The lust
- and beyond that widen > and beyond ⁋ That widen
- opal till > opal ⁋ Till
- runneth before and purge > runneth before ⁋ And purge
- old custom, running > old custom, ⁋ Running
- pain, and I > pain, ⁋ And I
- LOVED ONE, spread > Loved One, ⁋ Spread
- the blast, till > the blast, ⁋ Till
- gained—I come > gained— ⁋ I come