The collected poems of Arthur Edward Waite in two volumes ... With a Portrait |
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DISTRACTION |
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 | The collected poems of Arthur Edward Waite |  |
DISTRACTION
Shall a poet whose office is high
For the heights, say, a moment unapt,
Descend some distraction to try
And adapt?
For the heights, say, a moment unapt,
Descend some distraction to try
And adapt?
The thought in itself gives a touch
Of the trivial to help his descent:
Will decline be more steep overmuch
Than he meant?
Of the trivial to help his descent:
Will decline be more steep overmuch
Than he meant?
267
'Tis assumed he must cleave to his part
But may seek with conventions to toy,
See if flowers of the field will his heart
Offer joy:
But may seek with conventions to toy,
See if flowers of the field will his heart
Offer joy:
If the pastoral landscapes can please,
And Phyllis well-favour'd may seem
When the pipes of a Colin give ease
In his dream.
And Phyllis well-favour'd may seem
When the pipes of a Colin give ease
In his dream.
There's not much in this, as we know:
Shall he turn with an amorous gaze,
Of a courtlier mistress or so
Singing praise?
Shall he turn with an amorous gaze,
Of a courtlier mistress or so
Singing praise?
Shall he find in his country a theme,
Or the party he follows advance?
Shall he give some benevolent scheme
A rhyme's chance?
Or the party he follows advance?
Shall he give some benevolent scheme
A rhyme's chance?
We may doubt if distraction in these
Can be won from his call overlong,
Or that ways which are beaten will please
For his song.
Can be won from his call overlong,
Or that ways which are beaten will please
For his song.
For the things which are done may be done,
It is true, in a different way;
But the woof which is spun has been spun,
Well-a-day!
It is true, in a different way;
But the woof which is spun has been spun,
Well-a-day!
And the ends which are far out of reach,
Green earth and the sky that is blue
Exceeding, please most for our speech
Me and you.
Green earth and the sky that is blue
Exceeding, please most for our speech
Me and you.
Leave, therefore, the lambs to their fold
And the sheep to the shepherds who tend,
Since the themes which are old will be old
To the end.
And the sheep to the shepherds who tend,
Since the themes which are old will be old
To the end.
268
But above one and all are the peak's
Revelations, for song that can dare,
In pursuit of the high things it seeks,
To go there.
Revelations, for song that can dare,
In pursuit of the high things it seeks,
To go there.
| The collected poems of Arthur Edward Waite | |