Matin Bells and Scarlet and Gold By "F. Harald Williams"[i.e. F. W. O. Ward]. First Edition |
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WHAT IS THE VISION? |
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 | Matin Bells and Scarlet and Gold |  |
WHAT IS THE VISION?
Seer, what is the Vision? Seer, what saith the Night,
Which on me derision pours, but is thy light?
In those dreadful spaces where thy spirit walks
White, through native places, and with spirit talks;
How, when awful being is the same as seeing,
Can this carnal mind
Steeped in common clay by its earthly way
Rest and refuge find?
Clogged with spume and spatter but of sordid matter
Daily still more dense,
How can I adventure high
Dungeoned in the sense?
Seer, what is the Vision
In thy land of light,
Which, to me derision,
Opens not its larger lot?
Seer, what saith the Night?
Which on me derision pours, but is thy light?
In those dreadful spaces where thy spirit walks
White, through native places, and with spirit talks;
How, when awful being is the same as seeing,
Can this carnal mind
Steeped in common clay by its earthly way
Rest and refuge find?
Clogged with spume and spatter but of sordid matter
Daily still more dense,
How can I adventure high
Dungeoned in the sense?
Seer, what is the Vision
In thy land of light,
Which, to me derision,
Opens not its larger lot?
Seer, what saith the Night?
Seer, what is the reading of our riddle old?
Whither is it leading man to fate untold?
Far above the struggles which to us are death,
And a joy that juggles with deceiving breath;
Thou, where act and thinking in one solemn linking
Marry ere they meet,
Dost securely go past the ebb and flow
Fair with travelled feet.
I, in this dull prison chained and unarisen,
Wonder at thy flight
Up beyond my lowly bond
And congenial night.
Seer, what is the reading
Of the riddling years?
Whither are they leading
Men who rust in kindred dust,
Through our dazzling fears?
Whither is it leading man to fate untold?
Far above the struggles which to us are death,
And a joy that juggles with deceiving breath;
Thou, where act and thinking in one solemn linking
Marry ere they meet,
Dost securely go past the ebb and flow
Fair with travelled feet.
I, in this dull prison chained and unarisen,
Wonder at thy flight
Up beyond my lowly bond
And congenial night.
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Of the riddling years?
Whither are they leading
Men who rust in kindred dust,
Through our dazzling fears?
| Matin Bells and Scarlet and Gold | |