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sound； every sound By the law of its life to some silence is bound。
Then here will we hide； idle here and abide； In the covert here； close
by the waterside Here； where the slim flattered reeds are aquiver With
the exquisite hints of the reticent river； Here； where the lips of this pool
are the lips Of all pools； let us listen and question and wait； Let us hark
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DREAMS & DUST
to the whispers of love and of death； Let us hark to the lispings of life and
of fate In this place where pale silences flower into sound Let us strive
for some secret of all the profound Deep and calm Silence that meshes
men 'round！ There's as much of God hinted in one ripple's plashes…
… There's as much of Truth glints in yon dragon… fly's flight
There's as much Purpose gleams where yonder trout flashes As
inany book else！could we read things aright。
Then nymph of mine indolence； here let us hide； Learn； listen； and
question； idle here and abide Where the rushes and lilies lean low to the
tide。
〃THEY HAD NO POET 。 。 。〃
〃Vain was the chief's； the sage's pride！ They had no poet and they
died。〃POPE。
By Tigris； or the streams of Ind； Ere Colchis rose； or Babylon；
Forgotten empires dreamed and sinned； Setting tall towns against the
dawn；
Which； when the proud Sun smote upon； Flashed fire for fire and
pride for pride； Their names were 。 。 。 Ask oblivion！ 。 。 。 〃They had no
poet； and they died。〃
Queens； dusk of hair and tawny…skinned； That loll where fellow
leopards fawn 。 。 。 Their hearts are dust before the wind； Their loves；
that shook the world； are wan！
Passion is mighty 。 。 。 but； anon； Strong Death has Romance for his
bride； Their legends 。 。 。 Ask oblivion！ 。 。 。 〃They had no poet； and
they died。〃
Heroes； the braggart trumps that dinned Their futile triumphs；
monarch； pawn； Wild tribesmen； kingdoms disciplined； Passed like a
whirlwind and were gone；
They built with bronze and gold and brawn； The inner Vision still
denied； Their conquests 。 。 。 Ask oblivion！ 。 。 。 〃They had no poet； and
they died。〃
Dumb oracles； and priests withdrawn； Was it but flesh they deified？
Their gods were 。 。 。 Ask oblivion！ 。 。 。 〃They had no poet； and they
died。〃
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DREAMS & DUST
NEW YORK
SHE is hot to the sea that crouches beside； Human and hot to the
cool stars peering down； My passionate city； my quivering town； And
her dark blood； tide upon purple tide； With throbs as of thunder beats；
With leaping rhythms and vast； is swirled Through the shaken lengths of
her veined streets。。。 She pulses； the heart of a world！
I have thrilled with her ecstasy； agony； woe Hath she a mood that I
do not know？ The winds of her music tumultuous have seized me
and swayed me； Have lifted； have swung me around In their whorls
as of cyclonic sound； Her passions have torn me and tossed me and
brayed me； Drunken and tranced and dazzled with visions and
gleams；
I have spun with her dervish priests； I have searched to the souls
of her hunted beasts And found love sleeping there； I have soared on
the wings of her flashing dreams； I have sunk with her dull despair； I
have sweat with her travails and cursed with her pains； I have
swelled with her foolish pride； I have raged through a thick red mist at one
with her branded Cains； With her broken Christs have died。
O beautiful half…god city of visions and love！ O hideous half…brute
city of hate！ O wholly human and baffled and passionate town！ The
throes of thy burgeoning； stress of thy fight； Thy bitter； blind struggle to
gain for thy body a soul； I have known； I have felt； and been
shaken thereby！ Wakened and shaken and broken； For I hear
in thy thunders terrific that throb through thy rapid veins The
beat of the heart of a world。
A HYMN
（1914）
CLOTHED on with thunder and with steel And black against the
dawn The whirling armies clash and reel。 。 。 。 A wind； and they are gone
Like mists withdrawn； Like mists withdrawn！
Like clouds withdrawn； like driven sands； Earth's body vanisheth：
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One solid thing unconquered stands； The ghost that humbles death。
All else is breath； All else is breath！
Man rose from out the stinging slime； Half brute； and sought a soul；
And up the starrier ways of time； Half god； unto his goal；
He still must climb； He still must climb！
What though worlds stagger； and the suns Seem shaken in their
place； Trust thou the leaping love that runs Creative over space：
Take heart of grace； Take heart of grace！
What though great kingdoms fall on death Before the stabbing
blade； Their brazen might was only breath； Their substance but a
shade Be not dismayed； Be not dismayed！
Man's dream which conquered brute and clod Shall fail not； but
endure； Shall rise； though beaten to the sod； Shall hold its vantage sure…
… As sure as God； As sure as God！
THE SINGER
A LITTLE 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；
No more the thunder and the urge Of earth's full tides that
storm the verge Of heaven with their sweep and surge Shall
lift； shall bear him on； Where is the golden hope that led Him
comrade with the mighty dead？ The love that aureoled his head？
The glory is withdrawn！ How shall one soar with broken wings？
The leagued might of futile things Wars with the heart that dares and
sings； It is not always Dawn！ A little while； with age and death；
He wanders； dreaming。
WORDS ARE NOT GUNS
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Put by the sword （a dreamer saith）； The years of peace draw nigh！
Already the millennial dawn Makes red the eastern sky！
Be not deceived。 It comes not yet！ The ancient passions keep
Alive beneath their changing masks。 They are not dead。 They sleep。
Surely peace comes。 As sure as Man Rose from primeval slime。
That was not yesterday。 There's still A weary height to climb！
And we can dwell too long with dreams And play too much with
words； Forgetting our inheritance Was bought and held with swords。
But Truth （you say） makes tyrants quail Beats down embattled
Wrong？ If truth be armed！ Be not deceived。 The strife is to the strong。
Words are not guns。 Words are not ships。 And ships and guns
prevail。 Our liberties； that blood has gained； Are guarded； o