REINCARNATION In life what hope is always unto men ? Stories of Arthur that shall come again To cleanse the Earth of her eternal stain, Elias, Charlemagne, Christ. What matter then ? What matter who, or how, or even when ? If we but look beyond the primal pain, And trust the Future to write all things plain, Graven on brass with predestined pen. This is the doom. Upon the blind blue sky A little cloud, no larger than an hand ! Whether I live and love, or love and die, I care not : either way I understand. To me—to live is Christ ; to die is gain : For I, I also, I shall come again. 24