Wewerenotcynics，andwedreamedAManwhomadenotruceWithliesnorancientprivilegeNorold，entrenchedabuse。
Wedreamed……wedreamed……Youthdreamedadream！
AndevenyouforgotYourself，onemoment，anddreamed，too——
Struck，whileyourmoodwashot！
Struckthreeorfourgoodblows……andthenTurnedbacktoeasierthings:
Thecheapapplause，theblatantmob，Thepraiseofunderlings！
Praise……praise……wasevermansofilled，Soavidstill，ofpraise？
Sohungryforthecrowd’sacclaim，Thesycophanticphrase？
OyouwhomGreatnessbeckonedto……
OswollenLittlenessWhoturnedfromImmortalityTofawnuponSuccess！
Oblindwithloveofself，wholedYouth’svisiontodefeat，Bawlingandbrawlingforrewards，Loud，inthecommonstreet！
Oyouwhoweresoquicktojudge——
Leader，andloved，ofyore——
Hearnowthejudgmentofouryouth:
LeaderandChiefnomore！
THEBAYONET
（1914）
THEgreatgunsslayfromaleagueaway，thedeath—
boltsflyunseen，Andbellowinghillrepliestohill，machinetobrutemachine，ButstillintheendwhenthelonglinesbendandthebattlehangsindoubtTheytaketothesteelinthesameoldwaythattheirfathersfoughtitout——
ItismantomanandbreasttobreastandeyetobloodshoteyeAndthereachandtwistofthethrustingwrist，asitwasinthedaysgoneby！
Alongtheshakenhillsthegunstheirdrummingthunderroll——
Butthekeenbladesthrillwiththelusttokillthatleapsfromtheslayer’ssoul！
Forhandandheartandlivingsteel，onepulseofhatetheyfeel。
Isyourclanafraidofthenakedblade？Doesitflinchfromthebittersteel？
Perishyourdreamsofconquestthen，yourswollenhopesandbold，Forempiredwellswiththestabbingblade，asitdidinthedaysofold！
THEBUTCHERSATPRAYER
（1914）
EACHnationasitdrawstheswordAndflingsitsstandardtotheairPetitionspiouslytheLord——
Vexingthevoidabysswithprayer。
Oironytoodeepformirth！
Oposturingapesthatrant，anddareThisanticattitude！OEarth，Withyourwildjestofwickedprayer！
Idarenotlaugh……arisingswellOflaughterbreaksinshriekssomewhere——
NodoubttheyrelishitinHell，ThiscosmicjestofEarthatprayer！
SHADOWS
HAUNTED
（THEGHOSTSPEAKS）
AGHOSTisthefreakofasickman’sbrain？
Thenwhydoyestartandshiverso？
That’sthesobanddripofaleakydrain？
Butitsoundslikeanothernoiseweknow！
Theheavydropsdrummedredandslow，Thedropsrandownasslowasfate——
Doyehearthemstill？——itwaslongago！——
ButhereintheshadowsIwait，Iwait！
Spiritstherebethatpassinpeace;
Minepassedinawhorlofwrathanddole;
AndthehourthatyourchokingbreathshallceaseIwillgetmygriponyournakedsoul——
Norpitymaystaynorprayercajole——
IwoulddragyewhiningfromHell’sowngate:
Tome，tome，yemustpaythetoll！
AndhereintheshadowsIwait，Iwait！
Thedeadtheyaredead，theyareoutoftheway？
Andaghostisthewhimofanailingmind？
Thenwhydidyewhitenwithfearto—dayWhenyeheardavoiceinthecallingwind？
WhydidyefalterandlookbehindAtthecreepingmistswhenthehourgrewlate？
Yewouldseemyfacewereyestrickenblind！
AndhereintheshadowsIwait，Iwait！
Drinkandforget，makemerryandboast，Buttheboastringsfalseandthejestisthin——
InthehourthatImeetyeghosttoghost，Strippedofthefleshthatyeskulkwithin，Strippedtothecowardsoul’wareofitssin，Yeshalllearn，yeshalllearn，whetherdeadmenhate！
Ah，awearytimehasthewaitingbeen，ButhereintheshadowsIwait，Iwait！
ANIGHTMARE
LEAGUESbeforeme，leaguesbehind，Clamorwarringwastesofflood，AllthestreamsofalltheworldsFlungtogether，madofmood;
Throughthecanonbeatsasound，Regularofinterval，Distant，drumming，muffled，dull，Thunderouslyrhythmical;
Craftsslipbymystartledsoul——
Soulthatcowers，athingapart——
Theyarecorpusclesofblood！
That’sthethrobbingofaheart！
Godofterrors！——amImad？——
Throughmybody，mineownsoul，Shrunkentoanatom’ssize，Voyagestowardanunguessedgoal！
THEMOTHER
THEmotherbythegallows—tree，Thegallows—tree，thegallows—tree，（Whilethetwitchingbodymockedthesun）
LiftedtoHeavenherbrokenheartAndcalledforsympathy。
ThenMotherMarybenttoher，BentfromherplacebyGod’sleftside，Andwhispered:\"Peace——doInotknow？——
Mysonwascrucified！\"
\"OMotherMary，\"answeredshe，\"Youcannot，cannotenterinTomysoul’swoe——youcannotknow——
Foryoursonwroughtnosin！\"
（Andmenwhoseworkcompelledthemthere，Theirheartswerestrickendead;
Theyheardtheropecreakonthebeam;
IthoughtIheardthefrightenedghostWhimperingoverhead。）
Themotherbythegallows—tree，Thegallows—tree，thegallows—tree，LiftedtoChristherbrokenheartAndcalledinagony。
ThenLordChristbenttoherandsaid:
\"Becomforted，becomforted;
Iknowyourgrief;thewholeworld’swoeIboreuponmyhead。\"
\"ButOLordChrist，youcannotknow，Noonecanknow，\"shesaid，\"noone\"——
（Whilethequiveringcorpseswayedinthewind）——
\"LordChrist，noonecanunderstandWhoneverhadason！\"
INTHEBAYOU
LAZYandslow，throughthesnagsandtreesMovethesluggishcurrents，halfasleep;
Aroundandbetweenthecypressknees，Likeblack，slowsnakesthedarktidescreep——
Howdeepisthebayoubeneaththetrees？
\"Knee—deep，Knee—deep，Knee—deep，Knee—deep！\"
CroaksthebigbullfrogofReelfootLakeFromhishiding—placeinthedraggledbrake。
WhatisthesecrettheslimreedsknowThatmakesthemtoshakeandtoshiverso，Andthescaredflagsquiverfromplumetofoot？——
Thefrogspipesolemnly，deepandslow:
\"Lookundertheroot！
Lookundertheroot！\"
ThehoarsefrogcroaksandthestarkowlhootsOfamysterymooredinthecypressroots。
Wasitloveturnedhate？Wasitfriendturnedfoe？
Onlythefrogsandthegrayowlknow，ForthewhitemoonshroudedherfaceinamistAtthespurtofapistol，redandbright——
Atthesoundofashriekthatstabbedthenight——
Andthelittlereedswerefrightenedandwhist;
Butalwaystheeddieswhimperandchoke，Andthefrogswouldtelliftheycould，fortheycroak:
\"Deep，deep！
Death—deep！
Deep，deep！
Death—deep！\"
AndthedarktideslidesandglistersandglidesSnakelikeoverthesecretithides。
THESAILOR’SWIFESPEAKS
YEaredead，theysay，butyeswore，yeswore，Yewouldcometomebackfromthesea！
Fromoutoftheseaandthenight，yecried，NorthecrawlingweednorthedraggingtideCouldholdyefastfromme:——
Come，ah，cometome！
ThreespellsIhavelaidontherisingsunAndthreeonthewaningmoon——
AreyeheldinthebondsofthenightorthedayYemustloosenyourbondsandaway，away！
YemustcomewhereIwaitye，soon——
Ah，soon！soon！soon！
ThreetimesIhavecastmywordstothewind，Andthricetotheclimbingsea;
IfyedriftordreamwiththecloudsorfoamYemustdriftagainhome，yemustdriftagainhome——
Wraith，yearefree，yearefree;
Ghost，yearefree，yearefree！
Arethecoastsofdeathsofair，sofair？
ButIwaityehereontheshore！
ItisIthatyehearinthecallingwind——
Ihavestaredthroughthedarktillmysoulisblind！
Oloverofmine，yeswore，Loverofmine，yeswore！
HUNTED
Oh，whydotheyhuntsohard，sohard，whohavenoneedoffood？
Dotheyhuntforsport，dotheyhuntforhate，dotheyhuntforthelustofblood？……
IfIwereagodIwouldgetmeaspear，Iwouldgetmehorseanddog，Andmerrily，merrilyIwouldridethroughcovertandbrakeandbog，Withhoundandhornandlaughterloud，overthehillsandaway——
Forthereisnosportlikethatofagodwithamanthatstandsatbay！
Ho！butthemorningisfreshandfair，andoh！
butthesunisbright，Andyonderthequarrybreaksfromthebrushandheadsforthehillsinflight;
Aminute’slawfortheharriedthing——thenfollowhim，followhimfast，Withthebellowofdogsandthebeatofhoofsandthemellowbugle’sblast……
Hillo！Halloo！theyhavemarkedaman！thereissportintheworldto—day——
Andaclamorswellsfromtheheartofthewoodthattellsofasoulatbay！
ADREAMCHILD
WHEREtidesoftossedwistariabloomFoamupinpurpleturbulence，WheretwiningboughshavebuiltaroomAndwing’dwindspausetogarnerscentsAndscatteredsunlightflecksthegloom，Shebroodsinpensiveindolence。
Whatisthethoughtthatholdsherthrall，Thatdimshersightwithunshedtears？
WhatsongsofsorrowdroopandfallInbrokenmusicforherears？
WhatvoicesthrillherandrecallThepoignantjoyofhappieryears？
Shedreams’tisnotthewindswhichpassThatwhisperthroughtheshakenvine;
WhosefootstepstirstherustlinggrassNoneelsethatlistenedmightdivine;
SheseesherchildthatneverwasLookupwithlonginginhiseyne。
Unkissed，hisliftedforeheadgainsAgracenotearthly，butmorerare——
Forsinceherheartbutonlyfeigns，Whereforeshouldlovenotfeignhimfair？
Putbloodofrosesinhisveins，Weaveyellowsunshinesforhishair？
AllghostsoflittlechildrendeadThatwanderwistful，uncaressed，Theirseekinglipsbyloveunfed，ShefainwouldcradleonherbreastForhissweetsakewhoselonelyheadHasneverknownthattenderrest。
Andthusshesits，andthusshebroods，Wheredriftedblossomsfreakthegrass;
ThewindsthatmoveacrosshermoodsPulsewithlowwhispersastheypass，AndintheireerierinterludesShehearsavoicethatneverwas。
ACROSSTHENIGHT
MUCHlisteningthroughthesilences，Muchstaringthroughthenight，Andlo！thedumbblinddistancesArebridgedwithspeechandsight！
MagicianThought，informedofLove，Hathfixedherontheair——
Oh，LoveandIlaugheddownthefatesAndclaspedher，hereasthere！
AcrosstheeeriesilencesShecameinheadlongflight，Shestormedtheserrieddistances，Shetrampledspaceandnight！
Oh，foolishscientistsmightgiveThismiracleaname——
ButLoveandIcarebuttoknowThatwhenwecalledshecame。
AndsinceIfindthedistancesSubservienttomythought，AndofthesentientsilencesMorevitalspeechhavewrought，ThensheandIwillmockDeath’sself，Forallhisvauntedmight——
Therearenogulfswedarenotleap，Assheleaptthroughthenight！
SEACHANGES
I
MORNING
WEstoodamongtheboatsandnets;
Wesawtheswiftcloudsfall，WewatchedtheschoonersscamperinBeforethesuddensquall;——
ThejollysquallstrovelustilyTowhelmtheshelteredstreet——
ThemerrysquallthatpiledtheseasAboutthepatientheadland’skneesAndchasedthefishingfleet。
Shelaughed;asifwithwingshermirthAroseandleftthewinglessearthAndalltamethingsbehind;
Roselikeabird，wildwithdelightWhosebrinypinionsflashinflightThroughstormandsunandwind。
HerlaughtersoughtthoseskiesbecauseTheirmoodandherswereone，ForsheandIweredrunkwithloveAndlifeandstormandsun！
Andwhileshelaughed，theSunhimselfLeaptlaughingthroughtherainAndstruckhisharperhandalongTheringingcoast;andthatwind—songWhosejoyismixedwithpainForgottheundertoneofgriefAndjoinedthejocundstrain，AndovereveryhiddenreefWhereonthewavesbrokemerrilyRosejetsandspraysofmelodyAndleaptandlaughedagain。
II
MOONLIGHT
Westoodamongtheboatsandnets……
WemarkedtherisenmoonWalkswayingo’erthetremblingseasAsoneswaysinaswoon;
Thelittlestars，thelonelystars，Stolethroughthehollowsky，AndeverysuckingeddywhereThewaveslappedwharforrottenstairMoanedlikesomestrickenthinghidthereAndstrangledwithitsowndespairAstheshudderingtidecreptby。
Ilovedher，andIhatedher——
OrdidIhatemyselfbecause，Boundbyobscure，strong，silkenlaws，IfeltmyselftheworshiperOfbeautyneverwhollymine？
Withluresmostapttosnare，entwine，Withbondstoosubtletodefine，Herlighternaturemasteredmine;
Herselfhalfgiven，halfwithheld，HerlesserspiritstillcompelledItstributefrommyfrankersoul:
So——rebel，slave，andworshiper！——
IlovedherandIhatedher。
Igazeduponher，I，herthrall，Andmusing，murmured，Whatifdeath
Werejusttheanswertoitall？——
SupposesomedaintydaggerquaffedHerlifeinonedeepeagerdraught？——
SupposesomeamorousknifecaressedThelovelyhollowofherbreast？\"——
Sheturnedamockinglooktomine:
Shereadthethoughtwithinmyeyne，Sheheldmewithherlook——andlaughed！
Nowwhomaytellwhatstirs，controls，Andshapesmadfanciesintofacts？
WhattrivialthingsmayquickensoulsToirrevocable，swiftacts？
Nowwhohasknown，whounderstood，WhereforesomeidlethingMaystabwithdeadlierstingThanwell—consideredinsultcould？——
MayspurthelanguorofamoodAndrouseatigerintheblood？——
Ah，Christ！——hadshenotlaughedjustwhenThatfancycame！……forthen……andthen……
Asuddenmistdroppedfromthesky，Amistsweptinacrossthesea……
Amistthathidherfacefromme……
Aweepingmistalltingedwithred，Adrippingmistthatsmeltlikeblood……
Itchokedmythroat，itburntmybrain……
Andthroughitpeeredonesallowstar，Andthroughitrangoneshriekofpain……
Andwhenitpassedmyhandswerered，Mysoulwasdabbledwithherblood;
AndwhenitpassedmylovewasdeadAndtosseduponthetroubledflood。
III
MOONSET
Butsee！……thebodydoesnotsink;
Itridesuponthetide（Astarbeamonthedagger’shaft），Withstaringeyesandwide……
Andnow，upfromthedarklingsea，Downfromthefailingmoon，Arecomestrangeshapestomockatme……
Allpallidfromthestar—palesea，Whitefromthepalingmoon……
OrwhirlingfastorwheelingslowAround，aroundthecorpsetheygo，Allbloodlesso’erthesickenedseaBeneaththeailingmoon！
AndaretheyonlywispsoffogThatdancealongthewaves？
OnlyshapesofmistthewindDrivesalongthewaves？
OraretheyspiritsthattheseaHascheatedoftheirgraves？
Theghostsofthemthatdiedatsea，Ofmurderedmenflunginthesea，Whosebodieshadnograves？——
LostsoulsthathauntforevermoreThesobbingreefandhollowedshoreAndalways—murmuringcaves？
Ah，surelysomethingmorethanfog，Morethanstarlitmist！
ForstarlightnevermakesasoundAndfogsareeverwhist——
Buthearken，hearken，hearken，now，Forthesesingastheydance！
Asairily，aseerily，Theywheelaboutandwhirl，Theyjeeratme，theyfleeratme，Theyfloutmeastheyswirl！
Aswhirlingfastorswayingslow，Reeling，wheeling，toandfro，Around，aroundthecorpsetheygo，Theychillmewiththeirchants！
Thesebeneithermennormists——
Hearkentotheirchants:
Ever，ever，ever，DriftinglikeablossomSeaward，withthestarlightWanuponherbosom——
EverwhenthequickenedHeartofnightisthrobbing，EverwhenthetremblingTidesetsseaward，sobbing，ShallyouseethisburdenBorneuponitsebbing:
SeeherdriftingseawardLikeabrokenblossom，
EverseethestarlightKissherbruisedbosom。
Flightavailethnothing……
StillthesubtlebeachesDrawyoubackwhereHorrorWalkstheirshingledreaches……
EvershallyourspiritHearthesurfresounding，EvermoretheoceanThwartingyouandbounding;
Vainlystruggleinland！
Lashingyouandhounding，StillthevisionhalesyouFromtheuplandreaches，Goadingyouandgripping，Bindsyoutothebeaches！
Ever，ever，ever，Evershallherlaughter，Huntingyouandhaunting，Mockandfollowafter;
Risingwherethebuoy—bellClangsacrosstheshallows，
LeapingwherethespindriftHurtleso’erthehollows，RingingwherethemoonlightGleamsalongthebillows，Ever，ever，ever，Evershallherlaughter，Houndingyouandhaunting，Whipandfollowafter！
IV
SUNSET
IstoodamongtheboatsThesinkingsun，theangrysun，AcrossthesullenwaveLaidthesuddenstrengthofhisredwrathLiketoashakenglaive:——
OrdidthesunpauseinthewestToliftaswordatme，Orwasitshe，orwasitshe，RoseforaninstantonsomecrestAndpluckedtheredbladefromherbreastAndbrandisheditatme？
THETAVERNOFDESPAIR
THEwraithsofmurderedhopesandlovesComewhisperingatthedoor，ComecreepingthroughtheweepingmistThatdrapesthebarrenmoor;
Butwewithinhaveturnedthekey’GainstHopeandLoveandCare，WhereWitkeepstrystwithFolly，atTheTavernofDespair。
AndwehavecomebydiverswaysTokeepthismerrytryst，ButfewofushavekeptwithinTheNarrowWay，Iwist;
ForwearethosewhoseamplerwitsAndheartshaveprovedourcurse——
ForedoomedtokenthebetterthingsAndayetodotheworse！
Longsincewelearnedtomockourselves;
Andfromself—mockeryfellToheedlesslaughterinthefaceOfHeaven，Earth，andHell。
Wequiver’neath，andmock，God’srod;
Wefeel，andmock，Hiswrath;
WemockourownbloodonthethornsThatrimthe\"PrimrosePath。\"
WemocktheeerieglimmeringshapesThatrangetheouterwold，WemockourowncoldheartsbecauseTheyaresodeadandcold;
WefloutthethingswemighthavebeenHadselftoselfprovedtrue，Wemocktherosesflungaway，Wemockthegarneredrue;
Thefatesthatgibehavelessonedus;