Was it a wayside flower, Or was it her face, Made thee mad, brother? Or a madness grown apace With a love that sought The image of its soul That with life cannot be bought; Nor death's eternal roll Of days and moving years Can take it out of memory's bourne? 'Twas not love ... maybe, hate That made thy heart mad; Hurled thee in this state! O brother! be not sad; Madness the guerdon of the gods To those that sought gladness, And forgot Fate that lords Over Love's life and largess; Give us, yes, what we seek ... Alas! not as we need, but as they see fit. Sorrow not, though it pains thee. Laugh! thou laughest as mad! What matters if death be Near? ah! be glad. They did not see thy way, Nor, didst thou seek theirs. Let their voices sing thy lay; Who knows? the eye that stares At thee may be hers Telling thee mutely, thou hast won at last! Now, one more ring of laughter, A moment's star-gazing, Then let us hence depart, brother, Wide ope' the doors of the future. Ha! mad they name thee! Bad not their hearts, it seems Their life has its immortality, While yours, an infinity of dreams. Let flowers and faces fade; New ones will blossom and the old will be dead | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...PEDANTIC LITERALIST by MARIANNE MOORE SONNET: 1. THE BRIGHT MOON by CONRAD AIKEN SISTER MARIA CELESTE, GALILEO'S DAUGHTER, WRITES TO FRIEND by MADELINE DEFREES ARMAGEDDON by GEORGIA DOUGLAS JOHNSON POSSUM SONG (A WARNING) by JAMES WELDON JOHNSON |