-The Liturgy of Nocturnal Ascent-

Softly comes the breath of Dusk,
Stirs the skin, the mortal husk.
Soon to wane, blasphemed light
Folds and falls to blackest Night.
Fear to those whom She would smite.

Pitch descent of somber glory,
Star, Moon shall cow before Thee.
Ebon hand of mercies not
Grips the heart and holds it taut.
Wrath to those of blinded lot.

Shadows waxing, midnight cries
Victory in whispered sighs!
The heart sinks, the spirit wanes:
Darkest hour, shadow reigns.
Stygian in coursing veins.

The caliginous lapse.
Shadows flow, dance in traps
Ever unseen, wrath profound.
In gloom the mind is bound.
Blight comes, nary sigh nor sound.

Daylight chases, vainly mad;
Alight, fiery, the lustful cad.
Fairest Night ever eludes
That which Sun or Moon deludes.
Blackest of vicissitudes

-The Maidens-

Roiling tides of dusk embrace
Carnelian spheres of skies,
Come here forth, caress my face:
Breathe anew by light which dies

My mantle, a silv’ry pool;
My crown gleams brightly of stars
My fingers caress a spool
Wound of ashes, blood and scars.

Tears of wisdom drape my eyes;
Reverent prayers flee my lips.
Streaming through dark boughs: moonrise;
Softly gliding fingertips.

She came once, she comes again:
Proudest daughter of the Night
Sweetest kiss bestowed and then
An ebon nimbus of blight.

She spoke to me in raptures,
In silences and screeching.
Eyes glimmering apertures,
Her hunger ever reaching.

She keened and cried, beseeching
But instead, I spurned her,
Rejecting this dark teaching.
My steeled will, both firm and sure.

With this, fair Maiden of Night,
Blades concealed by shadowed might,
Crushed my soul and cut my life;
Fragile flowers, an iron knife.