Forty-Two Poems Part 8

THE STRANGER

To see this earth? Or would you see That hidden world which sent you me?

THE BLIND MAN

O sweet it were but once before I die To track the bird about the windy sky, Or watch the soft and changing grace Imprinted on a human face.

Yet grant me that which most I struggled for, Since I am old, and snow is on the ground.

On earth there's little to be found, And I would bear with earth no more.

O gentle youth, A fool am I, but let me see the Truth!

THE STRANGER

Gaze in my eyes.

THE BLIND MAN

How can I gaze?

What song is that, and what these rays Of splendour and this rush of wings?

THE STRANGER

These are the new celestial things.

THE BLIND MAN

Round the body of a child A great dark flame runs wild.

What may this be?

THE STRANGER

Look further, you shall see.

THE BLIND MAN

Out on the sea of time and far away The Empires sail like s.h.i.+ps, and many years Scatter before them in a mist of spray: Beyond is mist--when the mist clears - Enough--Away!--O friend, I would be there!

STRANGER

It is most sure that G.o.d has heard his prayer.

(The stranger vanishes)

THE BEGGAR

(Leading a troop of revellers from the house where they were singing)

Come, brothers, seek my friend and bring him in.

On such a night as this it were a sin To leave the blind alone.

THE REVELLERS

Greatly we fear lest he, still resolute, Have wandered to the fields for poisoned fruit.

THE BEGGAR

See here upon this stone . . .

He is all frozen . . . take him to a bed And warm his hands.

THE REVELLERS

O sorrow, he is dead!

GRAVIS DULCIS IMMUTABILIS

Come, let me kiss your wistful face Where Sorrow curves her bow of pain, And live sweet days and bitter days With you, or wanting you again.

I dread your perishable gold: Come near me now; the years are few.

Alas, when you and I are old I shall not want to look at you:

And yet come in. I shall not dare To gaze upon your countenance, But I shall huddle in my chair, Turn to the fire my fireless glance,

And listen, while that slow and grave Immutable sweet voice of yours Rises and falls, as falls a wave In summer on forgotten sh.o.r.es.

PILLAGE

They will trample our gardens to mire, they will bury our city in fire; Our women await their desire, our children the clang of the chain.

Our grave-eyed judges and lords they will bind by the neck with cords, And harry with whips and swords till they perish of shame or pain, And the great lapis lazuli dome where the G.o.ds of our race had a home Will break like a wave from the foam, and shred into fiery rain.

No more on the long summer days shall we walk in the meadow-sweet ways With the teachers of music and phrase, and the masters of dance and design.

No more when the trumpeter calls shall we feast in the white-light halls; For stayed are the soft footfalls of the moon-browed bearers of wine, And lost are the statues of Kings and of G.o.ds with great glorious wings, And an empire of beautiful things, and the lips of the love who was mine.

We have vanished, but not into night, though our manhood we sold to delight, Neglecting the chances of fight, unfit for the spear and the bow.

We are dead, but our living was great: we are dumb, but a song of our State Will roam in the desert and wait, with its burden of long, long ago, Till a scholar from sea-bright lands unearth from the years and the sands Some image with beautiful hands, and know what we want him to know.

THE BALLAD OF ZACHO (a Greek Legend.)

Zacho the King rode out of old (And truth is what I tell) With saddle and spurs and a rein of gold To find the door of h.e.l.l.