robert de montesquiou

Offrand Virginale

She sees nothing but official men, their dubious horrors,
and respects them with discourse.
When she achieves the mission she knows,
cities, temples, and hearts open,
but she guards her effort, never naked before
the vanquishers.
A bird goes to her and never returns.
When the drama is complete, the lips of the Holy,
a dove, Spirit herself, Paraclete.