Clark Ashton Smith

January 13, 1893 – August 14, 1961

In Thessaly

When I lay dead in Thessaly,
The land was rife with sorcery:
Fair witches howled to Hecate,
Pouring the blood of rams by night
With many a necromantic rite
To draw me back for their delight....

But I lay dead in Thessaly
With ah my lust and wizardry:
Somewhere the Golden Ass went by
To munch the rose and find again
The shape and manlihead of men:
But in my grave I stirred not then,

And the black lote in Thessaly
Its juices dripped unceasingly
Above the rotting mouth of me;
And Worm and mould and graveyard must
And roots of cypress, darkly thrust,
Transformed the dead to utter dust.
121 Total read