“I Have Lived with Shades”
I have lived with shades so long,And talked to them so oft,Since forth from cot and croftI went mankind among,That sometimes theyIn their dim styleWill pause awhileTo hear my say;
And take me by the hand,And lead me through their roomsIn the To-be, where DoomsHalf-wove and shapeless stand:And show from thereThe dwindled dustAnd rot and rustOf things that were.
“Now turn,” spake they to meOne day: “Look whence we came,And signify his nameWho gazes thence at thee.”——“Nor name nor raceKnow I, or can,”I said, “Of manSo commonplace.
“He moves me not at all;I note no ray or jotOf rareness in his lot,Or star exceptional.Into the dimDead throngs aroundHe’ll sink, nor soundBe left of him.”
“Yet,” said they, “his frail speech,Hath accents pitched like thine—Thy mould and his defineA likeness each to each—But go! Deep painAlas, would beHis name to thee,And told in vain!”
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