So As By Fire

So As By Fire.
233.4

There are two equal loves, each passion-strong,
And one doth still desire, and one deny.
Strange war they wage, these twain, their whole life long,
For either both must live, or both must die.

If love-denial prevail and have his will
He saves alive his brother, love-desire;
If love-desire would win, he first must kill,
Then burn alive upon his brother’s pyre.

But though denial be life, desire be death,
Spendthrift of life, I yield to death-desire.
I feel the burning of love’s indrawn breath,
And know Fate’s will-yet freely choose the fire.

Some single perfect love, burned pure of shame,
May rise like Phenix, deathless, from the flame.
-Curtis Hidden Page