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CONTEMPORARY VERSE VOtUMK III FEBRUARY, 1917 Number 3
THE MAN TO HIS DEAD POET By John Hall Wheelock
In the small, bare room brimmed up with twilight Hours long in silence I had sat
By the bed on which my youth lay dying And the poet that I once had been.
•
Many and many a day he had been failing, And I knew the end must come at last—
The poor fellow—I had loved him dearly, It was hard for me to see him go.
He was both my rapture and my sorrow — O how love unto its sorrow clings!
Many a bitter hour had he brought me, Loneliness, and shipwreck of the heart;
And I loved him. But my mind was weary Almost as the twilight of the day,
And my soul was sullen, and a little Tired of his everlasting talk.
Still from side to side his eyes went roaming, As in fever earnestly he moaned
Old forgotten ecstasies and splendors Ebbed from out my heart forevermore.
His poor fingers aimlessly and awkward Fumbled with the covers, and a look
On his features, fatuous and fervent, Foolish seemed and laughable enough.
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Softly stirred the curtains. From the river Came a sound of whistles. In the street Flared the first few lamps.
A barrel-organ
Rasped a mournful measure. Night was here.
"Ah, the cities," cried he, "and the faces Like an endless river rolling on —
From what unknown deeps of being risen
All those myriads, to what shadowy coast
"Of huge doom in sullen grandeur moving, The vast waters of the human soul!
Can you see it still—as in an ocean Every sea-drop sparkles of the sea,
"Foams, and perishes—, so for a moment From each living face the dauntless, dear
Eyes of life look out at us to greet us, Shine —and hurry by into the night!
"Is it beautiful," he cried, "my brother? " With such fiery question burned his glance,
That to quiet him in haste I answered,
"All that you have said is doubtless so;
"But, pray, calm yourself, my dear, good fellow, Let it be, and let it go at that. "
And I drew the covers 'round him closer, Smoothed his pillow for him. He began:
"Do you 'mind that night beside the beaches When the whole world in one brimming cup,
Earth and sky, the sea, clouds, dews, and starlight, To our lips was lifted, and we drank,
"Dizzy with dread joy and sacrificial Rapture of self-loss and sorrow dear,
Deep of beauty's draught, divine nirvana, The bewildering wine of all the world? "
"I remember certain lonely beaches," Wearily I answered, "nothing more.
Starlight is a usual occurrence
Any pleasant night beside the sea. "
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For my heart was sick and sore within me, — The poor fellow, every word he spoke
Shamed me, there was something in his gesture Almost comic that I could not bear.
Yet I feared this time that I had hurt him, Such offended silence long he kept:
On his hand I laid my hand in pity, Penitent, —and softly he began,
"Ah that night in May, do you remember? Nightingales are singing from the wood — —
And the moonlight through the lattice streaming Silence —and deep midnight —and one face
"Like a moonlit land, desire's kingdom, Luring from the breast the homesick self! "
Can you see it still," he cried, "my brother? Then in anger broke my wounded heart.
"Streets I see," I said, "and squalid alleys Where one lamp flares foully in the night,
Darkened windows full of empty faces — The sad jest and tragedy of man!