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And we have come by divers ways To keep this merry tryst； But
few of us have kept within The Narrow Way； I wist； For we are those
whose ampler wits And hearts have proved our curse Foredoomed to
ken the better things And aye to do the worse！
Long since we learned to mock ourselves； And from self…mockery
fell
To heedless laughter in the face Of Heaven； Earth； and Hell。 We
quiver 'neath； and mock； God's rod； We feel； and mock； His wrath； We
mock our own blood on the thorns That rim the 〃Primrose Path。〃
We mock the eerie glimmering shapes That range the outer wold；
We mock our own cold hearts because They are so dead and cold； We
flout the things we might have been Had self to self proved true； We
mock the roses flung away； We mock the garnered rue；
The fates that gibe have lessoned us； There sups to…night on earth
No madder crew of wastrels than This fellowship of mirth。 。 。 。 （Of
mirth 。 。 。 drink； fools！nor let it flag Lest from the outer mist Creep in
that other company Unbidden to the tryst。
We're grown so fond of paradox Perverseness holds us thrall； So
what each jester loves the best He mocks the most of all； But as the jest
and laugh go round； Each in his neighbor's eyes Reads； while he flouts
his heart's desire； The knowledge that he lies。
Not one of us but had some pearls And flung them to the swine；
Not one of us but had some gift Some spark of fire divine Each
might have been God's minister In the temple of some art Each feels
his gift perverted move Wormlike through his dry heart。
If God called Azrael to Him now And bade Death bend the bow
Against the saddest heart that beats Here on this earth below； Not any
sobbing breast would gain The guerdon of that barb
The saddest ones are those that wear The jester's motley garb。
Whose shout aye loudest rings； and whose The maddest cranks and
quips Who mints his soul to laughter's coin And wastes it with his
lips Has grown too sad for sighs and seeks To cheat himself with
mirth； We fools self…doomed to motley are The weariest wights on
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DREAMS & DUST
earth！
But yet； for us whose brains and hearts Strove aye in paths perverse；
Doomed still to know the better things And still to do the worse；
What else is there remains for us But make a jest of care And set the
rafters ringing； in Our Tavern of Despair？
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DREAMS & DUST
COLORS AND SURFACES
A GOLDEN LAD
（D。 V。 M。）
〃Golden lads and lasses must Like chimney…sweepers come to dust。〃
SHAKESPEARE。
So young； but already the splendor Of genius robed him about
Already the dangerous； tender Regard of the gods marked him out
（On whom the burden and duty They bind； at his earliest breath； Of
showing their own grave beauty； They love and they crown with death。）
We were of one blood； but the olden Rapt poets spake out in his
tone； We were of one blood； but the golden Rathe promise was his； his
alone。
And ever his great eye glistened With visions I could not see； Ever
he thrilled and listened To voices withholden from me。
Young lord of the realms of fancy； The bright dreams flocked to his
call Like sprites that the necromancy Of a Prospero holds in thrall
Quick visions that served and attended； Elusive and hovering things；
With a quiver of joy in the splendid Wild sweep of their luminous
wings；
He dwelt in an alien glamor； He wrought of its gleams a crown；
But the world； with its cruelty and clamor； Broke him and beat him
down；
So he passed； he was worn； he was weary； He was slain at the touch
of life； With a smile that was wistful and eerie He passed from the
senseless strife；
So he ceased （is their humor satiric； These gods that make perfect
and blight？） He ceased like an exquisite lyric That dies on the breast
of night。
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DREAMS & DUST
THE SAGE AND THE WOMAN
'TWIXT ancient Beersheba and Dan Another such a caravan Dazed
Palestine had never seen As that which bore Sabea's queen Up from the
fain and flaming South To slake her yearning spirit's drouth At
wisdom's pools； with Solomon。
With gifts of scented sandalwood； And labdanum； and cassia…bud；
With spicy spoils of Araby And camel…loads of ivory And heavy cloths
that glanced and shone With inwrought pearl and beryl…stone She came；
a bold Sabean girl。
And did she find him grave； or gay？ Perchance his palace breathed
that day With psalters sounding solemnly Or cymbals' merrier
minstrelsy Perchance the wearied monarch heard Some loose…tongued
prophet's meddling word； None knows； no onebut Solomon！
She lookedwith eyne wherein were blent All ardors of the Orient；
She spakeall magics of the South Were compassed in the witch's mouth；…
… He thought the scarlet lips of her More precious than En Gedi's myrrh；
The lips of that Sabean girl；
By many an amorous sun caressed； From lifted brow to amber breast
She gleamed in vivid loveliness And lithe as any leopardess And verily；
one blames thee not If thine own proverbs were forgot； O Solomon；
wise Solomon！
She danced for him； and surely she Learnt dancing from some moonlit
sea
Where elfin vapors swirled and swayed While the wild pipes of
witchcraft played Such clutching music 'twould impel A prophet's self to
dance to hell So spun the light Sabean girl。
He swore her laughter had the lilt Of chiming waters that are spilt In
sprays of spurted melody From founts of carven porphyry； And in the
billow