Forty—Two Poems

第8章

THEBLINDMAN

OsweetitwerebutoncebeforeIdieTotrackthebirdaboutthewindysky,OrwatchthesoftandchanginggraceImprintedonahumanface。

YetgrantmethatwhichmostIstruggledfor,SinceIamold,andsnowisontheground。

Onearththere\'slittletobefound,AndIwouldbearwithearthnomore。

Ogentleyouth,AfoolamI,butletmeseetheTruth!

THESTRANGER

Gazeinmyeyes。

THEBLINDMAN

HowcanIgaze?

Whatsongisthat,andwhattheseraysOfsplendourandthisrushofwings?

THESTRANGER

Thesearethenewcelestialthings。

THEBLINDMAN

RoundthebodyofachildAgreatdarkflamerunswild。

Whatmaythisbe?

THESTRANGER

Lookfurther,youshallsee。

THEBLINDMAN

OutontheseaoftimeandfarawayTheEmpiressaillikeships,andmanyyearsScatterbeforetheminamistofspray:

Beyondismistwhenthemistclears

EnoughAway!Ofriend,Iwouldbethere!

STRANGER

ItismostsurethatGodhasheardhisprayer。

(Thestrangervanishes)

THEBEGGAR

(Leadingatroopofrevellersfromthehousewheretheyweresinging)

Come,brothers,seekmyfriendandbringhimin。

OnsuchanightasthisitwereasinToleavetheblindalone。

THEREVELLERS

Greatlywefearlesthe,stillresolute,Havewanderedtothefieldsforpoisonedfruit。

THEBEGGAR

Seehereuponthisstone……

Heisallfrozen……takehimtoabedAndwarmhishands。

THEREVELLERS

Osorrow,heisdead!

GRAVISDULCISIMMUTABILIS

Come,letmekissyourwistfulfaceWhereSorrowcurvesherbowofpain,AndlivesweetdaysandbitterdaysWithyou,orwantingyouagain。

Idreadyourperishablegold:

Comenearmenow;theyearsarefew。

Alas,whenyouandIareoldIshallnotwanttolookatyou:

Andyetcomein。IshallnotdareTogazeuponyourcountenance,ButIshallhuddleinmychair,Turntothefiremyfirelessglance,Andlisten,whilethatslowandgraveImmutablesweetvoiceofyoursRisesandfalls,asfallsawaveInsummeronforgottenshores。

PILLAGE

Theywilltrampleourgardenstomire,theywillburyourcityinfire;

Ourwomenawaittheirdesire,ourchildrentheclangofthechain。

Ourgraveeyedjudgesandlordstheywillbindbytheneckwithcords,Andharrywithwhipsandswordstilltheyperishofshameorpain,AndthegreatlapislazulidomewherethegodsofourracehadahomeWillbreaklikeawavefromthefoam,andshredintofieryrain。

NomoreonthelongsummerdaysshallwewalkinthemeadowsweetwaysWiththeteachersofmusicandphrase,andthemastersofdanceanddesign。

Nomorewhenthetrumpetercallsshallwefeastinthewhitelighthalls;

Forstayedarethesoftfootfallsofthemoonbrowedbearersofwine,AndlostarethestatuesofKingsandofGodswithgreatgloriouswings,Andanempireofbeautifulthings,andthelipsofthelovewhowasmine。

Wehavevanished,butnotintonight,thoughourmanhoodwesoldtodelight,Neglectingthechancesoffight,unfitforthespearandthebow。

Wearedead,butourlivingwasgreat:wearedumb,butasongofourStateWillroaminthedesertandwait,withitsburdenoflong,longago,TillascholarfromseabrightlandsunearthfromtheyearsandthesandsSomeimagewithbeautifulhands,andknowwhatwewanthimtoknow。

THEBALLADOFZACHO

(aGreekLegend。)

ZachotheKingrodeoutofold(AndtruthiswhatItell)

WithsaddleandspursandareinofgoldTofindthedoorofHell。

AndroundaroundhimsurgedthedeadWithsoftandlustrouseyes。

"Whycameyouhere,oldfriend?"theysaid:

"Unwise……unwise……unwise!

"YoushouldhavelefttotheprinceyoursonSpursandsaddleandrein:

Yourbrightandmorningdaysaredone;

Youridenotoutagain。"

"IcametogreetmyfriendswhofellSwordscatteredfrommyside;

AndwhenI\'vedrunkthewineofHellI\'lloutagainandride!"

ButCharonroseandcaughthishairInfingerssharpandlong。

"Looseme,oldferryman:playfair:

Tryifmyarmbestrong。"

ThricedravehehardonCharon\'sbreast,Andstruckhimthricetoground,Tillstrangerghostscameouto\'thewestAndsatlikestarsaround。

AndthriceoldCharonroseuphighAndseizedhimasbefore。

"Looseme!abrokenmanamI,Andfightwithyounomore。\'\'

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