Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, THE VOICE OF THE WORM, by JOHN COWPER POWYS


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

THE VOICE OF THE WORM, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: The prophets and the saints forever keep
Last Line: "and cries, ""have courage! Live!"
Subject(s): Courage; Death; Devil; Pain; Prophecy & Prophets; Saints; Voices; Worms; Valor; Bravery; Dead, The; Satan; Mephistopheles; Lucifer; Beelzebub; Suffering; Misery


The Prophets and the Saints forever keep
Crying their cry of, "Live! Have Courage! Live!
The cisterns of our misery flow deep:
Deeper flows joy -- Have Faith! Have Courage! Live!"

I only, I, the worm who drank the blood
Of Satan when he fell,
Have from eternity this cry withstood,
Out of the pit of hell.

Courage? What is it but the old illusion
Forged by the sly Life-stream
To lure its creatures on to new confusion
From world-dream to world-dream.

I, the worm coiled in Demogorgon's brain,
I, who saw Lucifer
Hurled from the highest heaven, alone remain
Indifferent to this stir.

Not noble, not heroic, only fools,
Are they who "accept life"
With gallant catchwords borrowed from the schools
Of philosophic strife.

Too many gods have I seen born and die.
Hold ye your peace -- This "courage" will pass too.
O latest Raiment of the eternal Lie,
Snug 'mid your rags I yet shall spit at you!

I, who saw fall from heaven the Morning's Son
Whom his own strength sufficed,
I, who lie coiled forever on the Stone
Where they entombed the Christ,

Am not to be deceived if, -- after Pride
And Love, -- men credence give
To the Illusion that puts both aside;
And cries, "Have Courage! Live!"





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