Stretching taut the silken threads br On a mother-of-pearl shuttle, br O, lithe fingers, begin br Your fascinating lesson. br br Ebb and flow of your hands, br Monotonous movements, br No doubt you are conjuring br Some kind of solar fright. br br When your broad palm, br Like a shell, flaming, br First dies down, drawn to the shadows, br Then sinks at last in a rosy light.