The Poetical Works of Ernest Christopher Dowson Edited, with an introduction, by Desmond Flower |
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SPLEEN |
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 | The Poetical Works of Ernest Christopher Dowson |  |
135
SPLEEN
In the dull dark days of our life
We wander without a goal;
And the plague of living and strife
Eats worm-like into our soul
We wander without a goal;
And the plague of living and strife
Eats worm-like into our soul
To the tune of sighing and tears,
A weary purposeless band,
For the destined desolate years,
We fare thro' the Hopeless land.
A weary purposeless band,
For the destined desolate years,
We fare thro' the Hopeless land.
On our lips are signs as of fire,
Our eyes are wild with despair,
We are burnt with a fierce desire
For that we know not nor care.
Our eyes are wild with despair,
We are burnt with a fierce desire
For that we know not nor care.
136
With loathing of life that is past,
With horror of days to be,
We shiver like leaves in the blast,
Neath the breath of memory
With horror of days to be,
We shiver like leaves in the blast,
Neath the breath of memory
In the tearing fangs of remorse
We are fain to fall in the mire,
And wallowing seek for the source,
Of the Lethe we desire.
We are fain to fall in the mire,
And wallowing seek for the source,
Of the Lethe we desire.
Yet still are we troubled and torn,
By ennui, spleen and regret,
Whatever the depths of our scorn,
We cannot hope to forget.
By ennui, spleen and regret,
Whatever the depths of our scorn,
We cannot hope to forget.
O man, poor pitiful worm,
Foul nature's filthiest spawn,
As the helmless ship in a storm
So thou from the day thou art born
Foul nature's filthiest spawn,
As the helmless ship in a storm
So thou from the day thou art born
| The Poetical Works of Ernest Christopher Dowson | |