Transfiguration
Once as abroad I stray’d
In the soft evening gleam,
I saw by shadow’d stream
Two naked figures bright,
Shameless and unafraid,
Dancing in sheer delight,
As might two graceful girls.
Amid the willows cool
I saw their flesh as pearls
Shine by the shadowy pool
All opalescent white!
Crown’d by their misty curls!
So lovely delicate
It soothes me to relate!
My spirit was entranc’d
To see such artless grace.
On tip-toe I advanced.
O, ’twas a holy place!
And when I peep’d, behold!
Each bather was in truth
No girl, but a ripe youth
Seventeen summers old.
Their skin was smooth & fair,
And one had raven hair,
The other amber red,
That toss’d upon his head.
Lads of the common flock,
Their day spent at the desk,
At eve the mortal stock
Put off as fauns to frisk.
And pure as ivory
Transfigured each appears
As in a summer’s dream,
Mysterious and agleam,
To visionary eye.
O! how the sight endears!
My bosom melted quite!
So holy was the sight!
Holy the ground I trod,
Where I saw mortal sprite
At play like stripling god!
Yet may I live to prove
The Grecian lover’s dream
When naked youth and love
Caress 'neath sunlight’s beam,
And love is freed from blame
And beauty knows no shame,
And boyish lovers meet
In soft endearments sweet,
And the boyish form divine
Is worship’d in nature’s shrine,
And many a holy place
Sanctifies boyish grace;
And strip’d of mortal guise
Naked before my eyes
Spiritual bodies seen
of pretty mate with mate
Shall wanton, amorous clean,
In man’s essential state.
Such was the sight sublime.
