I shall lie so—and they
Who still the Day bestride,
Will stand so by my side
And with sad yearning say:
"What is he now, this man,
Shut in a pallor there,
His spirit that could dare,
What—what now is its span?
"A withered atom's space
Within a withered brain?
Or can it from the Wain
To far Orion race?"
And, like all that have died,
I shall but answer—naught.
Yet Time this truth has taught:
The Question—will abide.
I'LL LOOK NO MORE
I'll look no more! thro timeless hours my eyes
Without intent have watched the slowing flight
Of ebon crows across quiescent skies
Till all are gone; the last, a lonely bird,
Scudding to rest thro streams of golden curd
That flow far eastward to the coming night.
And as I turn again to foiling thought
My spirit leaves me—as faint zephyrs leave
The trees at evening; tho all day they've sought
A place to hide them in and fondly grieve.
And silently the slow oil sinks beneath
The noiseless burning wick of yellow flame.
It is as if God back to him would breathe
All the world's given life, and end its Aim.