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I should yield； Alone； the fealty that presents The tribute of a tempered ear
To an untempered eloquence。
Before I pondered long enough On whence he came and who he was； I
trembled at his ringing wealth Of manifold anathemas； I wondered； while
he seared the world； What new defection ailed the race； And if it mattered
how remote Our fathers were from such a place。
Before there was an hour for me To contemplate with less concern The
crumbling realm awaiting us Than his that was beyond return； A dawning
on the dust of years Had shaped with an elusive light Mirages of
remembered scenes That were no longer for the sight。
For now the gloom that hid the man Became a daylight on his wrath；
And one wherein my fancy viewed New lions ramping in his path。 The old
were dead and had no fangs； Wherefore he loved them seeing not They
were the same that in their time Had eaten everything they caught。
The world around him was a gift Of anguish to his eyes and ears； And
one that he had long reviled As fit for devils； not for seers。 Where； then；
was there a place for him That on this other side of death Saw nothing
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The Three Taverns A Book of Poems By Edwin Arlington Robinson
good； as he had seen No good come out of Nazareth？
Yet here there was a reticence； And I believe his only one； That hushed
him as if he beheld A Presence that would not be gone。 In such a silence
he confessed How much there was to be denied； And he would look at me
and live； As others might have looked and died。
As if at last he knew again That he had always known； his eyes Were
like to those of one who gazed On those of One who never dies。 For such
a moment he revealed What life has in it to be lost； And I could ask if
what I saw； Before me there； was man or ghost。
He may have died so many times That all there was of him to see Was
pride； that kept itself alive As too rebellious to be free； He may have told；
when more than once Humility seemed imminent； How many a lonely
time in vain The Second Coming came and went。
Whether he still defies or not The failure of an angry task That
relegates him out of time To chaos； I can only ask。 But as I knew him； so
he was； And somewhere among men to…day Those old； unyielding eyes
may flash； And flinch and look the other way。
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The Three Taverns A Book of Poems By Edwin Arlington Robinson
Neighbors
As often as we thought of her； We thought of a gray life That made a
quaint economist Of a wolf…haunted wife； We made the best of all she bore
That was not ours to bear； And honored her for wearing things That were
not things to wear。
There was a distance in her look That made us look again； And if she
smiled； we might believe That we had looked in vain。 Rarely she came
inside our doors； And had not long to stay； And when she left； it seemed
somehow That she was far away。
At last； when we had all forgot That all is here to change； A shadow on
the commonplace Was for a moment strange。 Yet there was nothing for
surprise； Nor much that need be told： Love； with his gift of pain； had given
More than one heart could hold。
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The Three Taverns A Book of Poems By Edwin Arlington Robinson
The Mill
The miller's wife had waited long； The tea was cold； the fire was dead；
And there might yet be nothing wrong In how he went and what he said：
〃There are no millers any more；〃 Was all that she had heard him say； And
he had lingered at the door So long that it seemed yesterday。
Sick with a fear that had no form She knew that she was there at last；
And in the mill there was a warm And mealy fragrance of the past。 What
else there was would only seem To say again what he had meant； And
what was hanging from a beam Would not have heeded where she went。
And if she thought it followed her； She may have reasoned in the dark
That one way of the few there were Would hide her and would leave no
mark： Black water； smooth above the weir Like starry velvet in the night；
Though ruffled once； would soon appear The same as ever to the sight。
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The Three Taverns A Book of Poems By Edwin Arlington Robinson
The Dark Hills
Dark hills at evening in the west； Where sunset hovers like a sound Of
golden horns that sang to rest Old bones of warriors under ground； Far
now from all the bannered ways Where flash the legions of the sun； You
fade as if the last of days Were fading； and all wars were done。
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The Three Taverns A Book of Poems By Edwin Arlington Robinson
The Three Taverns
When the brethren heard of us； they came to meet us as far as Appii
Forum； and The Three Taverns。 （Acts 28：15）
Herodion； Apelles； Amplias； And Andronicus？ Is it you I see At last？
And is it you now that are gazing As if in doubt of me？ Was I not saying
That I should come to Rome？ I did say that； And I said furthermore that I
should go On westward； where the gateway of the world Lets in the
central sea。 I did say that； But I say only； now； that I am Paul A prisoner
of the Law； and of the Lord A voice made free。 If there be time enough To
live； I may have more to tell you then Of western matters。 I go now to
Rome； Where Caesar waits for me； and I shall wait； And Caesar knows
how long。 In Caesarea There was a legend of Agrippa saying In a light
way to Festus； having heard My deposition； that I might be free； Had I
stayed free of Caesar； but the word Of God would have it as you see it is
And here I am。 The cup that I shall drink Is mine to drink the moment or
the place Not mine to say。 If it be now in Rome； Be it now in Rome； and if
your faith exceed The shadow cast of hope； say not of me Too surely or
too soon that years and shipwreck； And all the many deserts I have crossed
That are not named or regioned； have undone Beyond the brevities of our
mortal healing The part of me that is the least of me。 You see an older man
than he who fell Prone to the earth when he was nigh Damascus； Where
the great light came down； yet I am he That fell； and he that saw； and he
that