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The Three Taverns A Book of Poems By Edwin Arlington Robinson
The Three Taverns
A Book of Poems By Edwin Arlington Robinson
Edwin Arlington Robinson
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The Three Taverns A Book of Poems By Edwin Arlington Robinson
The Valley of the Shadow
There were faces to remember in the Valley of the Shadow； There were
faces unregarded； there were faces to forget； There were fires of grief and
fear that are a few forgotten ashes； There were sparks of recognition that
are not forgotten yet。 For at first； with an amazed and overwhelming
indignation At a measureless malfeasance that obscurely willed it thus；
They were lost and unacquainted till they found themselves in others；
Who had groped as they were groping where dim ways were perilous。
There were lives that were as dark as are the fears and intuitions Of a
child who knows himself and is alone with what he knows； There were
pensioners of dreams and there were debtors of illusions； All to fail before
the triumph of a weed that only grows。 There were thirsting heirs of
golden sieves that held not wine or water； And had no names in traffic or
more value there than toys： There were blighted sons of wonder in the
Valley of the Shadow； Where they suffered and still wondered why their
wonder made no noise。
There were slaves who dragged the shackles of a precedent unbroken；
Demonstrating the fulfilment of unalterable schemes； Which had been；
before the cradle； Time's inexorable tenants Of what were now the dusty
ruins of their father's dreams。 There were these； and there were many who
had stumbled up to manhood； Where they saw too late the road they
should have taken long ago： There were thwarted clerks and fiddlers in the
Valley of the Shadow； The commemorative wreckage of what others did
not know。
And there were daughters older than the mothers who had borne them；
Being older in their wisdom； which is older than the earth； And they were
going forward only farther into darkness； Unrelieved as were the blasting
obligations of their birth； And among them； giving always what was not
for their possession； There were maidens； very quiet； with no quiet in their
eyes： There were daughters of the silence in the Valley of the Shadow；
Each an isolated item in the family sacrifice。
There were creepers among catacombs where dull regrets were torches；
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The Three Taverns A Book of Poems By Edwin Arlington Robinson
Giving light enough to show them what was there upon the shelves
Where there was more for them to see than pleasure would remember Of
something that had been alive and once had been themselves。 There were
some who stirred the ruins with a solid imprecation； While as many fled
repentance for the promise of despair： There were drinkers of wrong
waters in the Valley of the Shadow； And all the sparkling ways were dust
that once had led them there。
There were some who knew the steps of Age incredibly beside them；
And his fingers upon shoulders that had never felt the wheel； And their
last of empty trophies was a gilded cup of nothing； Which a contemplating
vagabond would not have come to steal。 Long and often had they figured
for a larger valuation； But the size of their addition was the balance of a
doubt： There were gentlemen of leisure in the Valley of the Shadow； Not
allured by retrospection； disenchanted； and played out。
And among the dark endurances of unavowed reprisals There were
silent eyes of envy that saw little but saw well； And over beauty's
aftermath of hazardous ambitions There were tears for what had vanished
as they vanished where they fell。 Not assured of what was theirs； and
always hungry for the nameless； There were some whose only passion was
for Time who made them cold： There were numerous fair women in the
Valley of the Shadow； Dreaming rather less of heaven than of hell when
they were old。
Now and then； as if to scorn the common touch of common sorrow；
There were some who gave a few the distant pity of a smile； And another
cloaked a soul as with an ash of human embers； Having covered thus a
treasure that would last him for a while。 There were many by the presence
of the many disaffected； Whose exemption was included in the weight that
others bore： There were seekers after darkness in the Valley of the Shadow；
And they alone were there to find what they were looking for。
So they were； and so they are； and as they came are coming others；
And among them are the fearless and the meek and the unborn； And a
question that has held us heretofore without an answer May abide without
an answer until all have ceased to mourn。 For the children of the dark are
more to name than are the wretched； Or the broken； or the weary； or the
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The Three Taverns A Book of Poems By Edwin Arlington Robinson
baffled； or the shamed： There are builders of new mansions in the Valley
of the Shadow； And among them are the dying and the blinded and the
maimed。
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The Three Taverns A Book of Poems By Edwin Arlington Robinson
The Wandering Jew
I saw by looking in his eyes That they remembered everything； And
this was how I came to know That he was here； still wandering。 For
though the figure and the scene Were never to be reconciled； I knew the
man as I had known His image when I was a child。
With evidence at every turn； I should have held it safe to guess That all
the newness of New York Had nothing new in loneliness； Yet here was one
who might be Noah； Or Nathan； or Abimelech； Or Lamech； out of ages
lost； Or； more than all； Melchizedek。
Assured that he was none of these； I gave them back their names again；
To scan once more those endless eyes Where all my questions ended then。
I found in them what they revealed That I shall not live to forget； And
wondered if they found in mine Compassion that I might regret。
Pity； I learned； was not the least Of time's offending benefits That had
now for so long impugned The conservation of his wits： Rather it was that
I should yield； Alone； the fealty that presents The tr