Page:Collected poems Robinson, Edwin Arlington.djvu/233

 For a slow moment at me then With conscious eyes that had the gleam, The shine, before the stroke: "You know The ways of us, the way we dream: Of You know the glory we have won, You know the glamour we have lost; You see me now, you look at me, And yes, you pity me, almost; "But never mind the pity no, Confess the faith you can't conceal; And if you frown, be not like one Of those who frown before they feel. "For there is truth, and half truth, yes, And there's a quarter truth, no doubt; But mine was more than half. . . . You smile? You understand? You bear me out? "You always knew that I was right You are my friend and I have tried Your faith your love." The gleam grew small, The stroke was easy, and he died. I saw the dim look change itself To one that never will be dim; I saw the dead flesh to the grave, But that was not the last of him. For what was his to live lives yet : Truth, quarter truth, death cannot reach; Nor is it always what we know That we are fittest here to teach.