Till, blossom after blossom, that rich mood

Faded and truth rolled homeward, like a tide

Before whose edge the weak soul fled to hide

In vain, with ostrich head, through many a shape

Of coward fancy, whimpering for escape.

2

But only for a moment; then his soul

Took the full swell and heaved a dripping prow

Clear of the shattering wave-crest. He was whole.

No veils should hide the truth, no truth should cow