Page:Dreams and Dust, by Don Marquis.djvu/35



while, with love and youth,
 * He wandered, singing:—
 * He felt life's pulses hot and strong
 * Beat all his rapid veins along;
 * He wrought life's rhythms into song:
 * He laughed, he sang the Dawn!
 * So close, so close to life he dwelt
 * That at rare times and rapt he felt
 * The fleshly barriers yield and melt;
 * He trembled, looking on
 * Creation at her miracles;
 * His soul-sight pierced the earthly shells
 * And saw the spirit weave its spells,
 * The veil of clay withdrawn;—

A little while, with love and youth,
 * He wandered, singing!

A little while, with age and death,
 * He wanders, dreaming;—