Poesy

The Temporary the All

Change and chancefulness in my flowering youthtime,Set me sun by sun near to one unchosen;Wrought us fellow-like, and despite divergence,Friends interlinked us.

“Cherish him can I while the true one forthcome⁠—Come the rich fulfiller of my prevision;Life is roomy yet, and the odds unbounded.”So self-communed I.

Thwart my wistful way did a damsel saunter,Fair, the while unformed to be all-eclipsing;“Maiden meet,” held I, “till arise my forefeltWonder of women.”

Long a visioned hermitage deep desiring,Tenements uncouth I was fain to house in;“Let such lodging be for a breath-while,” thought I,“Soon a more seemly.

“Then, high handiwork will I make my life-deed,Truth and Light outshow; but the ripe time pending,Intermissive aim at the thing sufficeth.”Thus I . . . But lo, me!

Mistress, friend, place, aims to be bettered straightway,Bettered not has Fate or my hand’s achieving;Sole the showance those of my onward earth-track⁠—Never transcended!

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Text from a public-domain print edition.