I heard the intolerable rhythm and sound of prayer, so I have hidden where no mortals are, no sycophant of priest to mar my ease climbing impassable stairs of rock and forest shale and barrier of trees. Someone will come after I shun this place, and set a circle, blunt end up, of stones flattened and hewn, and pile an altar; but I shall have gone further, toward loftier barrier, mightier trees. Bear, wolf and pard I will entice with me, that eyes' black fire or yellow, flatter, conjure, feed desire, conspire, lead me yet further to some loftier shelf, untrodden. Unappeased, I will disport at ease and wait; I will engage in contretemps with earth how we may best efface from Elaea and all stony Peloponnese, from wild Arcadia, from the Isthmian straits, from Thrace and Locrain hills, (as isles are sunk in overwhelming seas), all Grecian cities with the wild arbutus and the luminous trees. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...LOVE'S APPARITION AND EVANISHMENT; AN ALLEGORICAL ROMANCE by SAMUEL TAYLOR COLERIDGE WYNKEN, BLYNKEN AND NOD by EUGENE FIELD UNMANIFEST DESTINY by RICHARD HOVEY JINNY THE JUST by MATTHEW PRIOR EUROPE; THE 72ND AND 73RD YEARS OF THESE STATES by WALT WHITMAN THE FUNERAL TREE OF THE SOKOKIS by JOHN GREENLEAF WHITTIER MALIGNED MORTALITY by WILLIAM ROSE BENET |