Perfume of Youth

(Girl's Song)


In Babylon, in Nineveh,

And long ago, and far away,

The lilies and the lotus blew

That are my sweet of youth to-day.


From those high gardens of the Gods

That eyes of men may never see,

The amaranth and asphodel

Immortal odours shed on me.


In vial of my early years,

As in a crystal vial held,

What precious fragrance treasured up

Of age and agelessness distill'd.


XThine but to give. Give straightway all.Y

Yea, straight, mine hands, the ointment rare

In great libation joyous pour!

Oh, look of youth. . . Oh, golden hair. . .