Sinister Resonance

Spirits in wings, a thousand seraphs bursted
Dark flames still hovering on their baneful flight
Death in all but the putrid breath that fell
Refracted, through thy bounds, afar
O Death! from the eye of Satan upon that star!
Sweet was that error — Better still than breath —
Sweet was that error — Sweeter still than death —
And there, O may my spirit dwell!
Beside your limbs & yet how far from the shell
For each star is fatal there
And looks so desperately afflicted
Like a thousand poisons, every blaze
Shines upon my eyes and afflicted heart
Away, Away!
— To distant spheres, I rode
And late to ours, the favored one of God
But now, the ruler of an infested realm
Incense and high spiritual hymns
Leaves in debt my wretched limbs