The stars are in collision. A dun night
Walks ghostly through the rain, sword scabbard-drawn.
Somewhere between the darkness and the dawn
Love faints from wounds, a sorry acolyte.
Never a daybreak shall reprove us more.
Proud and love-pitiless, we now are steeled
Against whatever fate may send afield
For the one moment given us to adore.

Thus, with bloody and indifferent hands,
We shall lay out the corpse of our desire,
Asking no God to give us weak commands,
Both masterless, owning our souls entire.
Yet even when we speak our last denial
Love takes revenge, and strangles us the while.