按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
Clean to that uttermost blank beach Whereto the boldest thought may
reach That voyages from the vaguest past （Dim realm and ultimate
of space） Is vexed and troubled； stirs and shakes； In prescience of a god
that wakes； Born of man's wish to see God's face！
36
… Page 37…
DREAMS & DUST
The endless； groping； dumb desires； The climbing incense thick
and sweet； The lovely purpose that aspires； The wraiths of vapor wing'd
and fleet That rise and run with eager feet Forth from a myriad altar
fires： All these become a mist that fills The vales and chasms nebular；
A shaping Soul that moves and thrills The wastes between red star and
star！
A SONG OF MEN
OUT of the soil and the slime； Reeking； they climb；
Out of the muck and the mire； Rank； they aspire；
Filthy with murder and mud； Black with shed blood； Lust and
passion and clay Dying； they slay；
Stirred by vague hints of a goal； Seeking a soul！
Groping through terror and night Up to the light：
Life in the dust and the clod Sensing a God；
Flushed of the glamor and gleam Caught from a dream；
Stained of the struggle and toil； Stained of the soil；
Ally of God in the end Helper and friend
Hero and prophet and priest Out of the beast！
THE NOBLER LESSON
CHRIST was of virgin birth； and； being slain； The creedists say； He
rose from death again。 Oh； futile age…long talk of death and birth！ His
life； that is the one thing wonder…worth； Not how He came； but how He
lived on earth。 For if gods stoop； and with quaint jugglery Mock nature's
laws； how shall that profit thee？ The nobler lesson is that mortals can
Grow godlike through this baffled front of man！
AT LAST
EACH race has died and lived and fought for the 〃true〃 gods of
that poor race； Unconsciously； divinest thought of each race gild… ing
its god's face。 And every race that lives and dies shall make itself
37
… Page 38…
DREAMS & DUST
some other gods； Shall build； with mingled truth and lies； new icons
from the world…old clods。 Through all the tangled creeds and dreams and
shifting shibboleths men hold The false…and…true； inwoven； gleams： a
matted mass of dross and gold。 Prove； then； thy gods in thine own
soul； all others' gods； for thee； are vain； Nor swerved be； struggling
for the goal； by bribe of joy nor threat of pain。
As skulls grow broader； so do faiths； as old tongues die； old gods
die； too；
And only ghosts of gods and wraiths may meet the backward…
gazer's view。 Where； where the faiths of yesterday？ Ah； whither
vanished； whither gone？ Say； what Apollos drive to…day adown the
flaming slopes of dawn？ Oh； does the blank past hide from view
forgotten Christs； to be reborn； The future tremble where some new
Messiah… Memnon sings the morn？ Of all the worlds； say any earth；
like dust wind… harried to and fro； Shall give the next Prometheus
birth； but say at lastyou do not know。
How should I know what dawn may gleam beyond the gates of
darkness there？ Which god of all the gods men dream？ Why
should I whip myself to care？ Whichever over all hath place hath shaped
and made me what I am； Hath made me strong to front his face； to
dare to question though he damn。
Perhaps to cringe and cower and bring a shrine a forced and
faithless faith Is far more futile than to fling your laughter in the face
of Death。 For writhe or whirl in dervish rout； they are not flattered
there on high； Or sham belief to hide a doubtno gods are mine that
love a lie！ Nor gods that beg belief on earth with portents that some
seer foretells Is life itself not wonder…worth that we must cry for
miracles？ Is it not strange enough we breathe？ Does every… thing
not God reveal？ Or must we ever weave and wreathe some creed that
shall his face conceal？ Some creed of which its prophets cry it holds
the secret's all…in…all： Some creed which ever bye and bye doth crumble；
totter； to its fall！ Say any dream of all the dreams that drift and
darkle； glint and glow； Holds most of truth within its gleams； but say
at lastyou do not know。
38
… Page 39…
DREAMS & DUST
Oh； say the soul； from star to star； with victory wing'd； leap on
through space And scale the bastioned nights that bar the secret's
inner dwelling…place； Or say it ever roam dim glades where pallid
wraiths of long…dead moons Flit like blown feathers through the shades；
borne on the breath of sobbing tunes： Say any tide of any time； of all
the tides that ebb and flow； Shall buoy us on toward any clime； but
sayat lastyou do not know！
39
… Page 40…
DREAMS & DUST
LYRICS
〃KING PANDION； HE IS DEAD〃
〃King Pandion； he is dead； All thy friends are lapp'd in lead。〃
SHAKESPEARE。
DREAMERS； drinkers； rebel youth； Where's the folly free and
fine You and I mistook for truth？ Wits and wastrels； friends of wine；
Wags and poets； friends of mine； Gleams and glamors all are fled； Fires
and frenzies half divine！ King Pandion； he is dead！
Time's unmannerly； uncouth！ Here's the crow's…foot for a sign！ And；
upon our brows； forsooth； Wits and wastrels； friends of wine； Time
hath set his mark malign； Frost has touched us； heart and head； Cooled
the blood and dulled the eyne： King Pandion； he is dead！
Time's a tyrant without ruth： Fancies used to bloom and twine
Round a common tavern