University of Virginia Library

14   Of the interminable sisters,
Of the ceaseless cotillions of sisters,
Of the centripetal and centrifugal sisters, the elder      and younger sisters,
The beautiful sister we know dances on with the rest.
15  With her ample back towards every beholder,
With the fascinations of youth, and the equal fascina-     tions of age,
Sits she whom I too love like the rest — sits undis-     turb'd,
Holding up in her hand what has the character of a      mirror, while her eyes glance back from it,
Glance as she sits, inviting none, denying none,
Holding a mirror day and night tirelessly before her      own face.
16   Seen at hand, or seen at a distance,
Duly the twenty-four appear in public every day,
Duly approach and pass with their companions, or a      companion,
Looking from no countenances of their own, but from      the countenances of those who are with them,
From the countenances of children or women, or the      manly countenance,
From the open countenances of animals, or from in-     animate things,
From the landscape or waters, or from the exquisite      apparition of the sky,
From our countenances, mine and yours, faithfully re-     turning them,
Every day in public appearing without fail, but never      twice with the same companions.
17  Embracing man, embracing all, proceed the three      hundred and sixty-five resistlessly round the      sun;
Embracing all, soothing, supporting, follow close three      hundred and sixty-five offsets of the first, sure      and necessary as they.
18  Tumbling on steadily, nothing dreading,
Sunshine, storm, cold, heat, forever withstanding.      passing, carrying,
The Soul's realization and determination still inherit-     ing;
The fluid vacuum around and ahead still entering and      dividing,
No balk retarding, no anchor anchoring, on no rock      striking,
Swift, glad, content, unbereav'd, nothing losing,
Of all able and ready at any time to give strict ac-     count,
The divine ship sails the divine sea.