Like far-off neighing of the nightmare's foal.

But let me fix my phantom-shadowed eyes

Hard on the stars—pale points of silver light—

Here is the borderland-here reason lies—

There, visions, gryphons, Nothing, and the Night.

Down, down, red specters, down, and rack me not!

Out, wolves of hell! Oh God, my pulses thrum;

The night grows fierce and blind and red and hot,

And nearer still a grim insistent drum.

I will not look into the shadows—No!