Bliss Carman (1861-1929). The Players. William Wilfred Campbell, comp. 1913. The Oxford Book of Canadian Verse

William Wilfred Campbell, comp. The Oxford Book of Canadian Verse. 1913.

The Players

By Bliss Carman (1861–1929)


WE are the players of a play
As old as earth,
Between the wings of night and day,
With tears and mirth.

There is no record of the land	5
From whence it came,
No legend of the playwright’s hand,
No bruited fame

Of those who for the piece were cast
On that first night,	10
When God drew up His curtain vast,
And there was light.

Before our eyes as we come on,
From age to age,
Flare up the footlights of the dawn	15
On this round stage.

In front, unknown, beyond the glare
Vague shadows loom;
And sounds like muttering winds are there
Foreboding doom.	20

Yet wistfully we keep the boards;
And as we mend
The blundering forgotten words,
Hope to the end

To hear the storm-beat of applause	25
Fill our desire,
When the dark Prompter gives us pause
And we retire.