The Sphinx

Fair Life whose virgin face looks on the boy
     With open smiles to cheer his open heart,
     What awful fate foredooms her bestial part,
Those buried talons that rend innocent joy
From his soft breast, and all his peace destroy;
     And the keen anger of her eyes that dart
     Leonine fire till all his fibres smart
From torturing charms that kindle to decoy?
Ah Man, that fate is only Not to know!
     Read thy Life’s riddle what thou art, and whence
The great tide wafts thee with eternal flow,
     And young-eyed beauty like the boundless air,
Shall fold thee sweetly till thy last sun sinks,
And fresh Life still shall be thy ever smiling Sphinx!