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I've tried the world； and found it good；
For more than twenty years this fall。
〃And what the world has left of me
Will go now in a little while。〃
And what the world had left of him
Was partly an unholy guile。
〃That I have paid for being calm
Is what you see； if you have eyes；
For let a man be calm too long；
He pays for much before he dies。
〃Be calm when you are growing old
And you have nothing else to do；
Pour not the wine of life too thin
If water means the death of you。
〃You say I might have learned at home
The truth in season to be strong？
Not so； I took the wine of life
Too thin； and I was calm too long。
〃Like others who are strong too late；
For me there was no going back；
For I had found another speed；
And I was on the other track。
〃God knows how far I might have gone
Or what there might have been to see；
But my speed had a sudden end；
And here you have the end of me。〃
The end or not； it may be now
But little farther from the truth
To say those worn satiric eyes
Had something of immortal youth。
He may among the millions here
Be one； or he may； quite as well；
Be gone to find again the Tree
Of Knowledge； out of which he fell。
He may be near us； dreaming yet
Of unrepented rouge and coral；
Or in a grave without a name
May be as far off as a moral。
Bewick Finzer
Time was when his half million drew
The breath of six per cent；
But soon the worm of what…was…not
Fed hard on his content；
And something crumbled in his brain
When his half million went。
Time passed； and filled along with his
The place of many more；
Time came； and hardly one of us
Had credence to restore；
From what appeared one day； the man
Whom we had known before。
The broken voice； the withered neck；
The coat worn out with care；
The cleanliness of indigence；
The brilliance of despair；
The fond imponderable dreams
Of affluence； all were there。
Poor Finzer； with his dreams and schemes；
Fares hard now in the race；
With heart and eye that have a task
When he looks in the face
Of one who might so easily
Have been in Finzer's place。
He comes unfailing for the loan
We give and then forget；
He comes； and probably for years
Will he be coming yet；
Familiar as an old mistake；
And futile as regret。
Bokardo
Well； Bokardo； here we are；
Make yourself at home。
Look around you haven't far
To look and why be dumb？
Not the place that used to be；
Not so many things to see；
But there's room for you and me。
And you you've come。
Talk a little； or； if not；
Show me with a sign
Why it was that you forgot
What was yours and mine。
Friends； I gather； are small things
In an age when coins are kings；
Even at that； one hardly flings
Friends before swine。
Rather strong？ I knew as much；
For it made you speak。
No offense to swine； as such；
But why this hide…and…seek？
You have something on your side；
And you wish you might have died；
So you tell me。 And you tried
One night last week？
You tried hard？ And even then
Found a time to pause？
When you try as hard again；
You'll have another cause。
When you find yourself at odds
With all dreamers of all gods；
You may smite yourself with rods
But not the laws。
Though they seem to show a spite
Rather devilish；
They move on as with a might
Stronger than your wish。
Still； however strong they be；
They bide man's authority：
Xerxes； when he flogged the sea；
May've scared a fish。
It's a comfort； if you like；
To keep honor warm；
But as often as you strike
The laws； you do no harm。
To the laws； I mean。 To you
That's another point of view；
One you may as well indue
With some alarm。
Not the most heroic face
To present； I grant；
Nor will you insure disgrace
By fearing what you want。
Freedom has a world of sides；
And if reason once derides
Courage； then your courage hides
A deal of cant。
Learn a little to forget
Life was once a feast；
You aren't fit for dying yet；
So don't be a beast。
Few men with a mind will say；
Thinking twice； that they can pay
Half their debts of yesterday；
Or be released。
There's a debt now on your mind
More than any gold？
And there's nothing you can find
Out there in the cold？
Only what's his name？ Remorse？
And Death riding on his horse？
Well； be glad there's nothing worse
Than you have told。
Leave Remorse to warm his hands
Outside in the rain。
As for Death； he understands；
And he will come again。
Therefore； till your wits are clear；
Flourish and be quiet here。
But a devil at each ear
Will be a strain？
Past a doubt they will indeed；
More than you have earned。
I say that because you need
Ablution； being burned？
Well； if you must have it so；
Your last flight went rather low。
Better say you had to know
What you have learned。
And that's over。 Here you are；
Battered by the past。
Time will have his little scar；
But the wound won't last。
Nor shall harrowing surprise
Find a world without its eyes
If a star fades when the skies
Are overcast。
God knows there are lives enough；
Crushed； and too far gone
Longer to make sermons of；
And those we leave alone。
Others； if they will； may rend
The worn patience of a friend
Who； though smiling； sees the end；
With nothing done。
But your fervor to be free
Fled the faith it scorned；
Death demands a decency
Of you； and you are warned。
But for all we give we get
Mostly blows？ Don't be upset；
You； Bokardo； are not yet
Consumed or mourned。
There'll be falling into view
Much to rearrange；
And there'll be a time for you
To marvel at the change。
They that have the least to fear
Question hardest what is here；
When long…hidden skies are clear；
The stars look strange。
The Man against the Sky
Between me and the sunset； like a dome
Against the glory of a world on fire；
Now burned a sudden hill；
Bleak； round； and high； by flame…lit height made higher；
With nothing on it for the flame to kill
Save one who moved and was alone up there
To loom before the chaos and the glare
As if he were the last god going home
Unto his last desire。
Dark； marvelous； and inscrutable he moved on
Till down the fiery distance he was gone；
Like one of those eternal； remote things
That range across a man's imaginings
When a sure music fills him and he knows
What he may say thereafter to few men；
The touch of ages having wrought
An echo and a glimpse of what he thought
A phantom or a legend until then；
For whether lighted over ways that save；
Or lured from all repose；
If he go on too far to find a grave；
Mostly alone he goes。
Even he； who stood where I ha