I came forth from the canyon and paused. At my feet the grey plain Glided away to the river; The desolate grey plain, wild and forbidding. A sinuous black-spotted lizard Whipped to the cover of shadows; Fierce shadows in sinister cactus. A wind from the canyon behind me Leaped out and pale dust-forms flew westward. Across the dark river high altars of mountains Blurred smokily there from the aisle of the canyon, With a sunset of flame for a back-drop of glory; Beneath a baldachin of sage-colored clouds Edged with a bright-burnished silver That moltenly merged into gold; Casting faint reflections Spread fan-wise across the far sky. I felt then, suddenly new, And at the same time strangely old. My thoughts, turning inward, trod slowly And wearily back down the years; Encountering more than was good Of forgotten illusions and dreams. But my heart always held toward the sunset, Nor ever turned back to the canyon. My soul ever followed the sun To the west, in his journey unending. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THE BLIND GOD by ISAAC ROSENBERG SONNET: 50 by GEORGE SANTAYANA AN OLD WOMAN: 2. HARVEST by EDITH SITWELL THE WISE WOMAN by SARA TEASDALE THE IRISH RAPPAREES; A PEASANT BALLAD OF 1691 by CHARLES GAVAN DUFFY AT THE TAVERN by PAUL LAURENCE DUNBAR |