Madison Julius Cawein
Last Lines
An epitaph, only the stars can read.
And all the lovely Myths thereof.
And drink the magic of her dreams.
And now a bare-foot truant and his dog.
And one is Love, whose other name is Death.
And the mere's and mine is the story.
And the near world a figment of her dreams.
Behold the wild Valkyries of the storm.
Bending above an unreal harpsichord.
Bids her prepare her gentle soul to die.
Clad on with sleep and memory.
Downward she goes with never lifted eyes.
Each bush with bloom, in snow commemorative.
Earth shaped the fragrant purity of this flower.
Emotions -- that be flowers -- born of such.
God doth address th' immortal soul of Man.
Heart of my heart, be comforted.
I met her ghost upon the bridge we parted at last year.
I might forget, I might forget, and rest!
I said "That God would let me die!"
In hesitant hands Death's partly-opened book.
In the hush of the heavens sweep near.
Is fragrant with the dreams of love.
It's Oh, for the hills, where the wind's some one
Like a drowned face, a blur beneath the ice.
Making her spirit's dream materialize.
My own self digging my soul a grave.
My watch by you, white violets in your hair.
Nearer and nearer to the death that waits.
No certain shape, no certain countenance.
Of silence as a sound -- from sleep awake.
Of Time beat out the seconds, one by one.
On the quarry hill with its one gnarled tree.
Only to lead us captives to Despair.
Part of the myths that I pursue in vain.
Preaching th' evangels of the stars and flowers.
Rumble the bridge like some deep throat of song.
Scolding at windows and at doors tight-shut.
Singing she goes with the calm face of Ruth.
Sits beside thee where forgot dost rest thee.
Sleeps, and the night is hushed around?
So love and I might look on her.
Strike, and his countenance become a skull.
The dead-sea fruit of Life's remembered joys.
The earth and sky grow dream-accessories.
The songs we sang when roving beneath the summer moon.
The stormy story of the fall of Troy.
The way of hate that led to love.
The wild leaves sigh i' the way.
Then smite her dead -- and die.
To hang it moonlike 'mid the starry rest.
Took place the marriage of our souls.
True love shall live forever, love.
Vague light of sleep's one fitful star.
Vesting his thoughts with that it comprehends.
Watching the leaves drift down.
What God intends be changed by man?
Who, with blue eyes, set the wild world on fire.
Whose silence says too much, too much!
With all the old-time loveliness again.
With burning eyes, gaunt with the glow of Hell?
With Death's dumb face, too late, to see and know.
With eyes of Jael watching till he sleep.
With love that shall destroy you.
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