A PRISONER
APRISONER am I.In fivefold gyves and strongI shall be captive, bound,My whole life long.But fettered, I shall make my bondsInto a shining song.For if it were not for the chains I bearI should be unawareOf the frail splendour of a peacock pacing slow,Rich, opalescent dyes,Blue, green, bronze-burnished, lustrous argent eyes—A fanfaradeOf lapis, azure, emerald and jade—A glory of spread plumes where shattered rainbows played.And never should I knowThe sound of running water soft and low,The hushed grey music of a summer rain,A plain song cadence, beautiful and strange,Old wistful chants scarred with lost Eden’s pain.Nor should I mark the rough austerityOf surf, the rude caress of waves that buffet me.Or find delightIn the cool touch of smoothéd ivory.And always I should lackThe scent of burning leaves, the poignant smackOf box; or heliotrope in the hot sun;Primroses opening their pale stars one by one.Then, too, I should forego the savour of fresh bread.Clear-dripping honey thick with the perfumeOf the red clover bloom.And never should I cool my parchéd mouthWith luscious apricots, warm, tinctured of the South.God, when my body mustReturn to dust,O let me beNot utterly set freeFrom these my friendly bonds!O let me use them there, as here, for TheeWith deeper rapture, keener ecstasy.
APRISONER am I.In fivefold gyves and strongI shall be captive, bound,My whole life long.But fettered, I shall make my bondsInto a shining song.For if it were not for the chains I bearI should be unawareOf the frail splendour of a peacock pacing slow,Rich, opalescent dyes,Blue, green, bronze-burnished, lustrous argent eyes—A fanfaradeOf lapis, azure, emerald and jade—A glory of spread plumes where shattered rainbows played.And never should I knowThe sound of running water soft and low,The hushed grey music of a summer rain,A plain song cadence, beautiful and strange,Old wistful chants scarred with lost Eden’s pain.Nor should I mark the rough austerityOf surf, the rude caress of waves that buffet me.Or find delightIn the cool touch of smoothéd ivory.And always I should lackThe scent of burning leaves, the poignant smackOf box; or heliotrope in the hot sun;Primroses opening their pale stars one by one.Then, too, I should forego the savour of fresh bread.Clear-dripping honey thick with the perfumeOf the red clover bloom.And never should I cool my parchéd mouthWith luscious apricots, warm, tinctured of the South.God, when my body mustReturn to dust,O let me beNot utterly set freeFrom these my friendly bonds!O let me use them there, as here, for TheeWith deeper rapture, keener ecstasy.
APRISONER am I.In fivefold gyves and strongI shall be captive, bound,My whole life long.But fettered, I shall make my bondsInto a shining song.
For if it were not for the chains I bearI should be unawareOf the frail splendour of a peacock pacing slow,Rich, opalescent dyes,Blue, green, bronze-burnished, lustrous argent eyes—A fanfaradeOf lapis, azure, emerald and jade—A glory of spread plumes where shattered rainbows played.
And never should I knowThe sound of running water soft and low,The hushed grey music of a summer rain,A plain song cadence, beautiful and strange,Old wistful chants scarred with lost Eden’s pain.
Nor should I mark the rough austerityOf surf, the rude caress of waves that buffet me.Or find delightIn the cool touch of smoothéd ivory.
And always I should lackThe scent of burning leaves, the poignant smackOf box; or heliotrope in the hot sun;Primroses opening their pale stars one by one.
Then, too, I should forego the savour of fresh bread.Clear-dripping honey thick with the perfumeOf the red clover bloom.And never should I cool my parchéd mouthWith luscious apricots, warm, tinctured of the South.
God, when my body mustReturn to dust,O let me beNot utterly set freeFrom these my friendly bonds!O let me use them there, as here, for TheeWith deeper rapture, keener ecstasy.