Once, on a long-gone evening, you and I Walked quietly beneath the cinnabars, Orchids and lapis of a sunset sky, And watched the lighting, one by one, of stars. A score of childish questions brought a smile Upon your Pan-like mouth that rarely smiled, And lifting me upon the broken stile, Your mind went questing words to suit a child: You said, "The stars are stepping stones to God, And this, our little world that seems so great, Is just another -- one that must be trod And left for others' footing -- soon or late --" "But stars seem far apart for stepping stones! I think we'll need the Giant's seven-league boots." "Yes. Seven-league boots -- and all your father owns Are something less than Average Size computes." Ten years you've journeyed, and I have no way Of knowing how time's measured where you are; Whether you've passed Orion and Er Rai Or stand upon some yet undreamed-of star; Wherever you are, I send this word to you By wind or passing meteor or flame: The ignorant child who begged the planets' story Has learned, at last, your wistful allegory, And has no doubt you've kept each rendezvous Punctually, despite your being -- lame. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THE FUNERAL OF YOUTH: THRENODY by RUPERT BROOKE THE SACK OF BALTIMORE by THOMAS OSBORNE DAVIS SIC VITA by HENRY KING (1592-1669) THE PRAIRIE-GRASS DIVIDING by WALT WHITMAN TO ONE BEREFT by ETHEL KNAPP BEHRMAN THE NEW PROSERPINE by MATHILDE BLIND A SONG by IVAN ALEKSEYEVITCH (ALEXEYVICH) BUNIN TOWARDS DEMOCRACY: PART 2. OF THE LOVE THAT YOU POURED FORTH by EDWARD CARPENTER |