Transformation

She waited in a rose-hued room;         A wanton-hearted creature she,         But beautiful and bright to see     As some great orchid just in bloom.     Upon wide cushions stretched at ease         She lolled in garments filmy fine,         Which but enhanced each rounded line;     A living picture, framed to please.     A bold electric eye of light         Leered through its ruddy screen of lace         And feasted on her form and face     As some wine-crimsoned rou might.     From wall and niche, nude nymph beguiled         Fair goddesses of world-wide fame,         But Psyche's self was put to shame     By one who from the cushions smiled.     Exotic blossoms from a vase         Their sweet narcotic breath exhaled;         The lights, the objects round her paled -     She lost the sense of time and place.     She seemed to float upon the air,         Untrammeled, unrestricted, free;         And rising from a vapory sea     She saw a form divinely fair.     A beauteous being in whose face         Shone all things sweet and true and good.         The innocence of maidenhood,     The motherhood of all the race.     The warmth which comes from heavenly fire,         The strength which leads the weaker man         To climb to God's Eternal plan     And conquer and control desire.     She shook as with a mighty awe,         For, gazing on this shape which stood         Embodying all true womanhood,     She knew it was herself she saw.     She woke as from a dream. But when         The laughing lover, light and bold         Came with his talk of wine and gold     He gazed, grew silent, gazed again;     Then turned abashed from those calm eyes         Where lurked no more the lure to sin.         Her higher self had entered in,     Her path led now to Paradise.