| George William (“A. E.”) Russell (1867–1935). Collected Poems by A.E. 1913. |
| |
| 68. Babylon |
| |
| |
| THE BLUE dusk ran between the streets: my love was winged within my mind, | |
| It left to-day and yesterday and thrice a thousand years behind. | |
| To-day was past and dead for me, for from to-day my feet had run | |
| Through thrice a thousand years to walk the ways of ancient Babylon. | |
| On temple top and palace roof the burnished gold flung back the rays | 5 |
| Of a red sunset that was dead and lost beyond a million days. | |
| The tower of heaven turns darker blue, a starry sparkle now begins; | |
| The mystery and magnificence, the myriad beauty and the sins | |
| Come back to me. I walk beneath the shadowy multitude of towers; | |
| Within the gloom the fountain jets its pallid mist in lily flowers. | 10 |
| The waters lull me and the scent of many gardens, and I hear | |
| Familiar voices, and the voice I love is whispering in my ear. | |
| Oh real as in dream all this; and then a hand on mine is laid: | |
| The wave of phantom time withdraws; and that young Babylonian maid, | |
| One drop of beauty left behind from all the flowing of that tide, | 15 |
| Is looking with the self-same eyes, and here in Ireland by my side. | |
| Oh light our life in Babylon, but Babylon has taken wings, | |
| While we are in the calm and proud procession of eternal things. | |
| |
|
|
|
