No Notation

Holy as Crowley

The Song of Isis

(From Tannhäuser)

From "Tannhäuser"
"Collected Works i" p. 228f/262  

    Isis am I, and from my life are fed
    All showers and suns, all moons that wax and wane,
    All stars and streams, the living and the dead,
    The mystery of pleasure and of pain.
    I am the mother! I the speaking sea!
    I am the earth and its fertility!
Life, death, love, hatred, light, darkness, return to me -
    To me!

    Hathoör am I, and to my beauty drawn
    All glories of the Universe bow down,
    The blossom and the mountain and the dawn,
    Fruit's blush, and woman, our creation's crown.
    I am the priest, the sacrifice, the shrine,
    I am the love and life of the divine!
Life, death, love hatred, light, darkness, are surely mine -
    Are mine!

    Venus am I, the love and light of earth,
    The wealth of kisses, the delight of tears,
    The barren pleasure never come to birth,
    The endless, infinite desire of years.
    I am the shrine at which thy long desire
    Devoured thee with intolerable fire.
I was song, music, passion, death, upon thy lyre -
    Thy lyre!  

    I am the Grail and I the Glory now:
    I am the flame and fuel of thy breast;
    I am the star of God upon thy brow;
    I am thy queen, enraptured and possessed.
    Hide thee, sweet river; welcome to the sea,
    Ocean of love that shall encompass thee!
Life, death, love, hatred, light, darkness, return to me -
    To me!

    Isis am I, and from my life are fed
    All stars and suns, all moons that wax and wane,
    Create and uncreate, living and dead,
    The Mystery of Pain.
    I am the mother, I the silent Sea,
    The Earth its travail, its fertility.
Life, death, love, hatred, light, darkness, return to me -
    To Me!

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