The roses were so very red, and the ivy so intensely black. My love, you have only to turn your head and all my hopelessness floods back! The vault of the sky was so deeply blue, the sea so green and the air so mild. I fear and hope to win from you a curse that i might be defiled. Of the gloss upon the holly leaf, and the sunlit bush i can take no more, through all my far-flung fields of gief, your memory has passed before.
---
Woman who, like the stab of a knife, Have entered my doleful heart; You who came wild and gaudy, Strong as a pack of demons,
And made your bed and your domain Of my humbled mind; — Vile woman to whom I'm bound Like the convict to the chain,
Like the stubborn gambler to the game, Like the drunkard to the bottle, Like the carrion to the vermin, — A curse, a curse upon you!
I've begged the quick sword-blade To win my freedom for me, And I've asked the perfidious poison To succor my cowardice.
Alas, the poison and the sword Held me up to scorn, and said: "You do not deserve to be released From your accursed thralldom,
You fool -- even if our efforts Delivered you from her sway, Your kisses would resuscitate The corpse of your vampire."