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I WHAT reck we of the creeds of men? | |
| We see them—we shall see again. | |
| What reck we of the tempest’s shock? | |
| What reck we where our anchor lock? | |
| On golden marl or mould— | 5 |
| In salt-sea flower or riven rock— | |
| What matter—so it hold? | |
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II What matters it the spot we fill | |
| On Earth’s green sod when all is said? | |
| When feet and hands and heart are still | 10 |
| And all our pulses quieted? | |
| When hate or love can kill nor thrill,— | |
| When we are done with life, and dead? | |
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III So we be haunted night nor day | |
| By any sin that we have sinned, | 15 |
| What matter where we dream away | |
| The ages?—In the isles of Ind, | |
| In Tybee, Cuba, or Cathay, | |
| Or in some world of winter wind? | |
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IV It may be I would wish to sleep | 20 |
| Beneath the wan, white stars of June, | |
| And hear the southern breezes creep | |
| Between me and the mellow moon; | |
| But so I do not wake to weep | |
| At any night or any noon, | 25 |
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V And so the generous gods allow | |
| Repose and peace from evil dreams, | |
| It matters little where or how | |
| My couch be spread:—by moving streams, | |
| Or on some eminent mountain’s brow | 30 |
| Kiss’d by the morn’s or sunset’s beams. | |
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VI For we shall rest; the brain that planned, | |
| That thought or wrought or well or ill, | |
| At gaze like Joshua’s moon shall stand, | |
| Not working any work or will, | 35 |
| While eye and lip and heart and hand | |
| Shall all be still,—shall all be still! | |
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