 | Romance and revery |  |
144
DEFEAT.
By bitter pilgrimage he sought to win
Those far dim towers that he would roam within.
Those far dim towers that he would roam within.
Through paths of peril, loud with dying groans,
Down chasms of failure, white with human bones,
Down chasms of failure, white with human bones,
Past brakes of treachery whence the tiger sprung,
O'er swamps of envy where the scorpion stung,
O'er swamps of envy where the scorpion stung,
His eager feet pressed onward to attain
The luring bourne of that desired domain. ...
The luring bourne of that desired domain. ...
And there at last, worn fugitive of fate,
He clutched the mighty clarion at the gate.
He clutched the mighty clarion at the gate.
A moment more, and while its proud peal rose,
The towers would rock, the portals would unclose.
The towers would rock, the portals would unclose.
But then, even then, by some foredoom profound,
He dropped dead ere his lips had waked one sound!
He dropped dead ere his lips had waked one sound!
| Romance and revery | |