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sideboards； Legless and mouldy； and hops； glint to glint； on hoards Of
scythes； and spades； and dinner…horns； so the old tools Are little candles
throwing brightness round in pools。 With Oriental splendour； red and gold；
the dust Covering its flames like smoke and thinning as a gust Of brighter
sunshine makes the colours leap and range； The strange old music…stand
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seems to strike out and change； To stroke and tear the darkness with sharp
golden claws； To dart a forked； vermilion tongue from open jaws； To puff
out bitter smoke which chokes the sun； and fade Back to a still； faint
outline obliterate in shade。 Creeping up the ladder into the loft； the Boy
Stands watching； very still； prickly and hot with joy。 He sees the dusty
sun…mote slit by streaks of red； He sees it split and stream； and all about
his head Spikes and spears of gold are licking； pricking； flicking；
Scratching against the walls and furniture； and nicking The darkness into
sparks； chipping away the gloom。 The Boy's nose smarts with the
pungence in the room。 The wind pushes an elm branch from before the
door And the sun widens out all along the floor； Filling the barn…chamber
with white； straightforward light； So not one blurred outline can tease the
mind to fright。
〃O All ye Works of the Lord； Bless ye the Lord； Praise Him； and
Magnify Him for ever。 O let the Earth Bless the Lord； Yea； let it
Praise Him； and Magnify Him for ever。 O ye Mountains and Hills；
Bless ye the Lord； Praise Him； and Magnify Him for ever。 O All
ye Green Things upon the Earth； Bless ye the Lord； Praise Him； and
Magnify Him for ever。〃
The Boy will praise his God on an altar builded fair； Will heap it with
the Works of the Lord。 In the morning air； Spices shall burn on it； and by
their pale smoke curled； Like shoots of all the Green Things； the God of
this bright World Shall see the Boy's desire to pay his debt of praise。 The
Boy turns round about； seeking with careful gaze An altar meet and
worthy； but each table and chair Has some defect； each piece is needing
some repair To perfect it； the chairs have broken legs and backs； The
tables are uneven； and every highboy lacks A handle or a drawer； the desks
are bruised and worn； And even a wide sofa has its cane seat torn。 Only in
the gloom far in the corner there The lacquer music…stand is elegant and
rare； Clear and slim of line； with its four wings outspread； The sound of
old quartets； a tenuous； faint thread； Hanging and floating over it； it stands
supreme Black； and gold； and crimson； in one twisted scheme！
A candle on the bookcase feels a draught and wavers； Stippling the
white…washed walls with dancing shades and quavers。 A bed…post； grown
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colossal； jigs about the ceiling； And shadows； strangely altered； stain the
walls； revealing Eagles； and rabbits； and weird faces pulled awry； And
hands which fetch and carry things incessantly。 Under the Eastern window；
where the morning sun Must touch it； stands the music…stand； and on each
one Of its broad platforms is a pyramid of stones； And metals； and dried
flowers； and pine and hemlock cones； An oriole's nest with the four eggs
neatly blown； The rattle of a rattlesnake； and three large brown Butternuts
uncracked； six butterflies impaled With a green luna moth； a snake…skin
freshly scaled； Some sunflower seeds； wampum； and a bloody…tooth shell；
A blue jay feather； all together piled pell…mell The stand will hold no more。
The Boy with humming head Looks once again； blows out the light； and
creeps to bed。
The Boy keeps solemn vigil； while outside the wind Blows gustily and
clear； and slaps against the blind。 He hardly tries to sleep； so sharp his
ecstasy It burns his soul to emptiness； and sets it free For adoration only；
for worship。 Dedicate； His unsheathed soul is naked in its novitiate。 The
hours strike below from the clock on the stair。 The Boy is a white flame
suspiring in prayer。 Morning will bring the sun； the Golden Eye of Him
Whose splendour must be veiled by starry cherubim； Whose Feet shimmer
like crystal in the streets of Heaven。 Like an open rose the sun will stand
up even； Fronting the window…sill； and when the casement glows Rose…red
with the new…blown morning； then the fire which flows From the sun will
fall upon the altar and ignite The spices； and his sacrifice will burn in
perfumed light。 Over the music…stand the ghosts of sounds will swim；
‘Viols d'amore' and ‘hautbois' accorded to a hymn。 The Boy will see the
faintest breath of angels' wings Fanning the smoke； and voices will flower
through the strings。 He dares no farther vision； and with scalding eyes
Waits upon the daylight and his great emprise。
The cold； grey light of dawn was whitening the wall When the Boy；
fine…drawn by sleeplessness； started his ritual。 He washed； all shivering
and pointed like a flame。 He threw the shutters open； and in the window…
frame The morning glimmered like a tarnished Venice glass。 He took his
Chinese pastilles and put them in a mass Upon the mantelpiece till he
could seek a plate Worthy to hold them burning。 Alas！ He had been
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late In thinking of this need； and now he could not find Platter or saucer
rare enough to ease his mind。 The house was not astir； and he dared not go
down Into the barn…chamber； lest some door should be blown And slam
before the draught he made as he went out。 The light was growing
yellower； and still he looked about。 A flash of almost crimson from the
gilded pear Upon the music…stand； startled him waiting there。 The sun
would rise and he would meet it unprepared； Labelled a fool in having
missed what he had dared。 He ran across the room； took his pastilles and
laid Them on the flat…topped pear； most carefully displayed To light with
ease； then stood a little to one side； Focussed a burning…glass and
painstakingly tried To hold