I stood on a tower in the midst of the stars. Of a sudden I whirled! In a lightning flash I plumbed, past fears and frightful formulas, The riddle of the universe—too rash! Where am I? Is all alone? Where does it go, This rolling lump that bears me?—And I can die, Die, and depart unseeing! Speak! Shall time flow And not return? Stop! Stop! How satisfy The yearning days? I know not, yet have ceased— Perhaps now. ... I was in darkness, then came to be— Why? Whence the world? And whither? For the priest Is but a man. They know not. Appear and let us see, God, eternal witness! Speak, wherefore Life? ... Silence! Space is heartless! Be Merciful, stars! I will not die! I soar! Ah! To be nothing irretrievably! | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...TRIFLE by GEORGIA DOUGLAS JOHNSON DOWN BY THE CARIB SEA: 5. THE DANCING GIRL by JAMES WELDON JOHNSON VASHTI by JAMES WELDON JOHNSON NEBUCHADNEZZAR: OR EATING GRASS by EDGAR LEE MASTERS HOMAGE TO SEXTUS PROPERTIUS: 8 by EZRA POUND |