 | The Unknown Madonna and Other Poems |  |
19
TOURGUÉNEFF.
Oh watcher of the night, what cheer to see?
A fruitless fret and fume of uncontent,
A world of shadows wandering aimlessly,
A weary purpose and a heart long spent;
A fruitless fret and fume of uncontent,
A world of shadows wandering aimlessly,
A weary purpose and a heart long spent;
A hand of iron reaching everywhere,
And over-clouded skies where no stars shine,
A flock without a shepherd, and despair
Gazing across the darkness for a sign;
And over-clouded skies where no stars shine,
A flock without a shepherd, and despair
Gazing across the darkness for a sign;
A crowd of preachers without faith or creed,
And here and there, to break the monotone,
The passing wonder of a golden deed—
A sacrifice, unrecompensed, unknown.
And here and there, to break the monotone,
The passing wonder of a golden deed—
A sacrifice, unrecompensed, unknown.
And is that all? Not quite; beside the bier
Where youth lies self-devoted, far and faint
Above the world's scorn crying “fool,” I hear
Another voice that seems to answer “saint.”
Where youth lies self-devoted, far and faint
Above the world's scorn crying “fool,” I hear
Another voice that seems to answer “saint.”
| The Unknown Madonna and Other Poems | |