With bold and insolent grimace,
Love laughingly bestrides
The bare skull of any race
And, as enthroned it rides,

Blows bubbles from its rosy cheeks
Which soar into the sky
As if, beyond the blue, to seek
The other worlds on high.

But the ride with wondrous verve.
At first... Reflect the sunny beams,
Then spit their flimsy soul, to burst
And fade like golden dreams.

I hear the skull at each renewal
and yes!
Expostulate aghast-
'This game is ridiculous and cruel-
When will it end at last?

For what your cruel mouthpiece drains
And scatters, sud by sud,
Monstrous Assassin! is my brain,
my substance, and my blood.'