THE GIANTESS

I saw a comic giantess

At a tremendous feast alone,

Striving to eat some gorgeous mess

That formed a hard whole, as a stone.

But for her mouth it was too much

That, her avidity being such,

It doubled her void wish's hell;

And her mouth's wide, impotent clutch

Would have made laugh, did it not quell

Laughter with being horrible.

At her impossible, void feast

I saw her and, seeing her despair,

«What's that too large thing that to eat

You idly strive?» I asked of her ;

And I laughed out serene and rude.

She wept wild tears and said, «This meat

That by its greatness doth elude

My constant gaping, wild and sore,

        Is Beauty whole and complete.»

I looked at her and laughed no more,

But I wept, for I understood.