Vampire Memory
On the Grand Canal at night-time—
Take away the garish glare
Of the many-colored daylight,
Like a maiden favored fair,
Deeked in all the rainbow colors,
With red poppies in her hair,
On the Grand Canal at night-time—
Let the blue-black night come down
Etched with mere pin points of brightness,
Lights of the half-sleeping town,
Sky above and sea beneath us—
God be good to those who drown.
Give me Pearl again, reclining;
Let me hear her accents clear
In some soft Italian measure,
Grant me just again to hear—
Once again to see an heard her
And the sullen gondolier.
The red poppies on her forehead—
Nay, let me no more look, down!
God, bless blot out the memory of her!
In her eyes, deep pools of brown
Where I sink—remove this vampire!
God be good to those who drown!