Anterior Life (La Vie Anterieure)

Long since, I lived in lordly porches fronting With thronged, enormous pillars to the tide, Where day as in basaltic caverns died With seaward gleams along the columns shunting. The surges rolled the reflex of the skies Before my portals, mystically blending Their consonance of solemn chords unending With the nacre and rose ignited in mine eyes. I lay supine through days with amber scented, Blue-litten by the vast and vagrant wave, Nursing a somber secret none could know: On the full bosom of a golden slave My feet reposed, and sable queens invented Fantastic love to tease my weary woe.