I
I saw a slowly-stepping train -
Lined on the brows, scoop-eyed and bent and hoar -
Following in files across a twilit plain A strange and mystic form the foremost bore.
II
And by contagious throbs of thought Or latent knowledge that within me lay And had already stirred me, I was wrought To consciousness of sorrow even as they.
III
The fore-borne shape, to my blurred eyes, At first seemed man-like, and anon to change To an amorphous cloud of marvellous size, At times endowed with wings of glorious range.
IV
And this phantasmal variousness Ever possessed it as they drew along:
Yet throughout all it symboled none the less Potency vast and loving-kindness strong.
V
Almost before I knew I bent Towards the moving columns without a word;
They, growing in bulk and numbers as they went, Struck out sick thoughts that could be overheard:-
VI
"O man-projected Figure, of late Imaged as we, thy knell who shall survive?
Whence came it we were tempted to create One whom we can no longer keep alive?
VII
"Framing him jealous, fierce, at first, We gave him justice as the ages rolled, Will to bless those by circumstance accurst, And longsuffering, and mercies manifold.
VIII
"And, tricked by our own early dream And need of solace, we grew self-deceived, Our making soon our maker did we deem, And what we had imagined we believed.
IX
"Till, in Time's stayless stealthy swing, Uncompromising rude reality Mangled the Monarch of our fashioning, Who quavered, sank; and now has ceased to be.
X
"So, toward our myth's oblivion, Darkling, and languid-lipped, we creep and grope Sadlier than those who wept in Babylon, Whose Zion was a still abiding hope.
XI
"How sweet it was in years far hied To start the wheels of day with trustful prayer, To lie down liegely at the eventide And feel a blest assurance he was there!
XII
"And who or what shall fill his place?
Whither will wanderers turn distracted eyes For some fixed star to stimulate their pace Towards the goal of their enterprise?" . . .
XIII
Some in the background then I saw, Sweet women, youths, men, all incredulous, Who chimed as one: "This figure is of straw, This requiem mockery! Still he lives to us!"
XIV
I could not prop their faith: and yet Many I had known: with all I sympathized;
And though struck speechless, I did not forget That what was mourned for, I, too, once had prized.
XV
Still, how to bear such loss I deemed The insistent question for each animate mind, And gazing, to my growing sight there seemed A pale yet positive gleam low down behind, XVI
Whereof to lift the general night, A certain few who stood aloof had said, "See you upon the horizon that small light -
Swelling somewhat?" Each mourner shook his head.
XVII
And they composed a crowd of whom Some were right good, and many nigh the best . . .
Thus dazed and puzzled 'twixt the gleam and gloom Mechanically I followed with the rest.
1908-10.
