His hair was white as mountain snow.

His head drooped forward on his breast.

With shriveled hands he flung his seed,

Nor ever turned to look behind;

Of sight or sound he took no heed;

It seemed he was both deaf and blind.

His dim face showed no soul beneath,

Yet in my heart I felt a stir,

As if I looked upon the sheath

That once had clasped Excalibur.