In The Vices

Gay and audacious crime glints in his eyes, And his mad talk, raping the commonplace, Gleefully runs a devil-praising race, And none can ever follow where he flies. He streaks himself with vices tenderly; He cradles sin, and with a figleaf fan Taps his green cat, watching a bored sun span The wasted minutes to eternity.

Once I took up his trail along the dark, Wishful to track him to the witches' flame, To see the bubbling of the sneer and snare. The way led through a fragrant starlit park, And soon upon a harlot's house I came-- Within I found him playing at solitaire!