I broke my life, to seek relief From the flawed light of love and grief

I burned my life, that I might find 

A passion wholly of the mind, 

Thought divorced from eye and bone, 

Ecstasy come to breath alone. 

I broke my life, to seek relief 

From the flawed light of love and grief. 

 

With mounting beat the utter fire 

Charred existence and desire. 

It died low, ceased its sudden thresh. 

I found unmysterious flesh— 

Not the mind’s avid substance—still 

Passionate beyond the will. 

 

 [Louise Bogan {1897-1970} 'The Alchemist'. This poem is in the public domain.]