Retrospect

“I HAVE LIVED WITH SHADES”

I

I HAVE lived with shades so long, And talked to them so oft, Since forth from cot and croft I went mankind among, That sometimes they In their dim style Will pause awhile To hear my say;

II

And take me by the hand, And lead me through their rooms In the To-be, where Dooms Half-wove and shapeless stand: And show from there The dwindled dust And rot and rust Of things that were.

III

“Now turn,” spake they to me One day: “Look whence we came, And signify his name Who gazes thence at thee.”— —“Nor name nor race Know I, or can,” I said, “Of man So commonplace.

IV

“He moves me not at all; I note no ray or jot Of rareness in his lot, Or star exceptional. Into the dim Dead throngs around He’ll sink, nor sound Be left of him.”

V

“Yet,” said they, “his frail speech, Hath accents pitched like thine— Thy mould and his define A likeness each to each— But go! Deep pain Alas, would be His name to thee, And told in vain!”

Feb. 2, 1899.