Explore "The Ordeal" by William Carlos Williams on Textopian. Read with annotations and highlights.
O Crimson salamander, / Because of love's whim / sacred!
Swim / the winding flame / Predestined to disman him / And bring our fellow home to us again.
Swim in with watery fang, / Gnaw out and drown / The fire roots that circle him / Until the Hell-flower dies down / And he comes home again.
Aye, bring him home, / O crimson salamander, / That I may see he is unchanged with burning -- / Then have your will with him, / O crimson salamander.