 | The Poems of Selwyn Image |  |
10
VANITAS
Through all the hours of all the days
I seek for Love through all the ways
His spirit drives my wandering feet,
One face, one form, one heart to meet
Unfound through any ways and days.
I seek for Love through all the ways
His spirit drives my wandering feet,
One face, one form, one heart to meet
Unfound through any ways and days.
The million million waves that race
Over the whole world's ocean's face;
The million million leaves that quiver
Within the whole world's trees for ever,
Oh! leaves that quiver, oh! waves that race,
Over the whole world's ocean's face;
The million million leaves that quiver
Within the whole world's trees for ever,
Oh! leaves that quiver, oh! waves that race,
Your pulses beat for a spirit's kiss
That ye yearn and yearn for, ever miss;
For a spirit to touch you, embrace you, enter,
Steep you in rest to your heart's heart-centre,
Spread over you heaven, one endless kiss.
That ye yearn and yearn for, ever miss;
For a spirit to touch you, embrace you, enter,
Steep you in rest to your heart's heart-centre,
Spread over you heaven, one endless kiss.
The waves die dashed on the rocks, the leaves
Die dry as dust that their fall receives.
In vain, in vain they have thrilled for pain
Of the dreams of a love, whose end is vain,
All vain for me and the waves and leaves.
Die dry as dust that their fall receives.
In vain, in vain they have thrilled for pain
Of the dreams of a love, whose end is vain,
All vain for me and the waves and leaves.
1885.
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