Orpheus

While the bright sounds are lifted up to spring Beyond this tide of being, Shadows and sense far fleeing Into a shadow deeper than the Ocean When passes all the mind’s commotion To a serener sky, a mighty calm emotion ! - The whole world fades, folds over its wide pinions Into a darkness deeper than its own. Silence hath shattered all the dream-dominions Of life and light: the grey bird’s soul is flown Into a soundless night, Lampless: a vivid flight Beyond the thrones and stars of heaven down hurled, Till the great blackness heaves An iron breast, and cleaves The womb of night, another mightier world. Lost is my soul, and faded The light of life that braided Its comet tresses into golden fire. Fade, fade, the phantoms of desire ! Speed, speed the song of love upon the living lyre! Lo! I abide not, and my lover's glory Abides not: in the swaying of those tides Gathers beneath some mighty promontory One mightier wave, deep drowns it, and abides. Save that one wave alone Nought in the void is known, 150