Epilogue

Epilogue to Volume 2 of the Collected Works of Aleister Crowley.



When the chill of earth black-breasted is
  uplifted at the glance
Of the red sun million-crested, and the forest
  blossoms dance
With the light that stirs and lustres of the
  dawn, and with the bloom
Of the wind's cheek as it clusters from
  hidden valley's gloom:
Then I walk in woodland spaces, musing on
  the solemn ways
Of the immemorial places shut behind the
  starry rays;
Of the East and all its splendour, of the
  West and all its peace;
And the stubborn lights grow tender, and
  the hard sounds hush and cease.
In the wheel of heaven revolving, mysteries
  of death and birth,
In the womb of time dissolving, shape anew
  a heaven and earth
Ever changing, ever growing, ever dwindling,
  ever dear,
Ever worth the passion glowing to distil
  a doubtful tear.
These are with me, these are of me, these
  approve me, these obey,
Choose me, move me, fear me, love me,
  master of the night and day.
These are real, these illusion: I am of them,
  false or frail,
True or lasting, all is fusion in the spirit's
  shadow-veil,
Till the knowledge-Lotus flowering hides
  the world beneath its stem;
Neither I, nor God life-showering, find a
  counterpart in them.
As a spirit in a vision shows a countenance
  of fear,
Laughs the looker to derision, only comes
  to disappear,
Gods and mortals, mind and matter, in the
  glowing bud dissever:
Vein from vein they rend and shatter, and
  are nothingness for ever.
In the Blessed, the enlightened, perfect eyes
  these visions pass,
Pass and cease, poor shadows frightened,
  leave no stain upon the glass.
One last stroke, O heart-free master,
  one last certain calm of will,
And the maker of Disaster shall be stricken
  and grow still.
Burn thou to the core of matter, to the
  spirit's utmost flame,
Consciousness and sense to shatter, ruin
  sight and form and name!
Shatter, Lake-reflected spectre; lake, rise up
  in mist to sun;
Sun, dissolve in showers of nectar, and the
  Master's work is done.
Nectar perfume gently stealing, masterful
  and sweet and strong,
Cleanse the world with light of healing in
  the ancient house of wrong!
Free a million million mortals on the wheel
  of being tossed!
Open wide the Mystic portals, and be
  altogether lost!


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Last updated on the 13.March.99
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