ON MY OWN PORTRAIT
And yet—the face shall pass
As a shadow ’cross the grass;
As the shadow of a bird-wing
Spread a moment in the sun;
As the light-blown dust that dances
In the wind and whirls and glances
Mote-wise in a passing sunbeam,
When the Sand of Fate is run.
Out of silence—here and hither;
Into silence—whence and whither
Still unanswered; still unmapped
The road the feet have come and gone.
Heart of fire, soul aspiring;
Spirit daring, strong, untiring—
Is the unmapped Road to Silence
All that ye and Life have won?
Ah! but there was still the fight!
Darkness—and the search for light!
Road unmapped—but fearless going
Out upon the journey—knowing
Naught and daring all.
As ye will then, weigh and measure;
Count the gain and hoard the treasure—
But the Fight was more than all.