 | Stones from The Quarry |  |
308
SELF AND TRUTH.
Myself, my true presentment, as in glass
Of many facettes, frankly here I show;
Profile and full-face, back and front, with no
Disguise; half-length—full-length in what I was,
And am, and as these into other pass;
As many currents, eddies inter-flow,
With shift of course, depth, speed, force, yet still go
Under one name, which all in common has.
Myself I show; none other; as I best
And truest can, for Truth is life of life,
And Death-in-Life, alas! pushed to last test.
I thought she would bring peace, but has brought strife;
“War to the knife!” and, like the poisoned vest
Of Nessus, her last gift with death is rife!
Of many facettes, frankly here I show;
Profile and full-face, back and front, with no
Disguise; half-length—full-length in what I was,
And am, and as these into other pass;
As many currents, eddies inter-flow,
With shift of course, depth, speed, force, yet still go
Under one name, which all in common has.
Myself I show; none other; as I best
And truest can, for Truth is life of life,
And Death-in-Life, alas! pushed to last test.
I thought she would bring peace, but has brought strife;
“War to the knife!” and, like the poisoned vest
Of Nessus, her last gift with death is rife!
In youth we were as lovers; and though still
She coyly fled, evading my pursuit,
At once repelling, and yet courting to it,
And hesitating 'twixt “Will not” and “Will;”
Yet with her fascinations had she skill
To hold me thrall, ever with tempting fruit
From the tree of Knowledge, Mistress absolute!
Pelting me from her coverts, disguis'd ill.
Thus went the game; but when I drew so near
That I in my embrace had thought to hold
Her fast, and to enjoy her sweetest cheer,
She changèd favour, turned, looked on me cold,
With Parthian darts oft wounding, which I fear
Will mortal prove as Death's, if truth be told!
She coyly fled, evading my pursuit,
At once repelling, and yet courting to it,
And hesitating 'twixt “Will not” and “Will;”
Yet with her fascinations had she skill
To hold me thrall, ever with tempting fruit
From the tree of Knowledge, Mistress absolute!
Pelting me from her coverts, disguis'd ill.
Thus went the game; but when I drew so near
That I in my embrace had thought to hold
Her fast, and to enjoy her sweetest cheer,
She changèd favour, turned, looked on me cold,
With Parthian darts oft wounding, which I fear
Will mortal prove as Death's, if truth be told!
| Stones from The Quarry | |