The Wayfarers (Essex)

Still the white stars burn overhead, The green earth swings upon her way Where are the voices of the dead, The hearts of Yesterday?

Drawn by what strange, mysterious power, From what dream-world and magic sky Came they to laugh on earth an hour, To weep, to toil, to die.

And whither gone? On what wild flight By planet pale and sceptred star? What realms of sorrow or delight Now wander they afar?

Pale Wayfarers, whose noiseless tread ls near me as I seem to see The mighty generations dead, And all that yet shall be!

Are Past and Future, then, a breath That one vast Present makes its own? The Angel, Birth, the Shadow, Death; Each guard a world unknown.

Wayfarers all, we know not whence We came, nor whitherwards we go. Deep In our hearts a haunting sense That somewhere we shall know.

Still the white stars burn overhead, The green earth swings upon her way; Where are the voices of the dead, The hearts of yesterday?