Page:The city of dreadful night - and other poems (IA cityofdreadfulni00thomrich).pdf/32

 And heard the heave and plashing of the flow Against the wall a dozen feet below.

Large elm-trees stood along that river-walk; And under one, a few steps from my seat, I heard strange voices join in stranger talk, Although I had not heard approaching feet: These bodiless voices in my waking dream Flowed dark words blending with the sombre stream:—

And you have after all come back; come back. I was about to follow on your track. And you have failed: our spark of hope is black.

That I have failed is proved by my return: The spark is quenched, nor ever more will burn. But listen; and the story you shall learn.

I reached the portal common spirits fear, And read the words above it, dark yet clear, "Leave hope behind, all ye who enter here:"

And would have passed in, gratified to gain That positive eternity of pain, Instead of this insufferable inane.