67 . Stars

WILD eyes—and faces ashen grey

That strain through lofty prison bars

To see the everlasting stars,

Then turn—to slumber as we may:

Even as we are, so are they,

And here is peace for all who know

The stars still follow where we go,

When heaven and earth have passed away.

Obedient to the Unknown Power,

From out the ruin of a world

A clustered galaxy is hurled

To glimmer through its steadfast hour:

The blazing sun of Shakespeare’s soul

Shattered to star-dust, fills again

With meteor-flights the immortal brain

That seeks a yet more splendid goal;

And still a voice—that now is ours—

Repeats for aye the unknown word

That thrilled the heart of beast and bird,

Ere man had learned to love the flowers.