Modern Love IX: He Felt the Wild Beast

 He felt the wild beast in him betweenwhiles 
So masterfully rude, that he would grieve 
To see the helpless delicate thing receive 
His guardianship through certain dark defiles.
 
Had he not teeth to rend, and hunger too? 
But still he spared her.
 Once: 'Have you no fear ?' 
He said: 'twas dusk; she in his grasp; none near.
 
She laughed: 'No, surely; am I not with you?' 
And uttering that soft starry 'you,' she leaned 
Her gentle body near him, looking up; 
And from her eyes, as from a poison-cup, 
He drank until the flittering eyelids screened.
 
Devilish malignant witch and oh, young beam 
Of heaven's circle-glory! Here thy shape 
To squeeze like an intoxicating grape 
I might, and yet thou goest safe, supreme.

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