I WALK darkly down the day, Sanguine, and yet never sure If the noon's abundant ray In its brightness shall endure; Brooding calm or crying storm, Sunrise glory, sunset splendor, Beauty in each shifting form, Grave or tender, -- Through them, time of frost or flower, Conscious every orbed hour, I walk darkly. I walk darkly down the night, Slave to marvel, questioning If the moon's ethereal light Be not some dream-builded thing; Under star on swirling star, Meteor dust and comet's fire, Vaults of purple faint and far Where expire Tiny wavering flecks of flame, Atom-points without a name, I walk darkly. I walk darkly; peace or stress, Crest of joy or depth of woe, I may grope and I may guess, Fancy, and yet never know. Just the husk of truth I grip, -- Heaped wisdom of the ages, Learning's mightiest fellowship, Saints and sages, -- In despite of each and all, What am I but folly's thrall Who walk darkly? | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...HOMAGE TO SEXTUS PROPERTIUS: 11 by EZRA POUND MR. HOUSMAN'S MESSAGE by EZRA POUND THE PLAYERS ASK FOR A BLESSING ON THE PSALTERIES AND ON THEMSELVES by WILLIAM BUTLER YEATS THE JEW TO JESUS by FLORENCE KIPER FRANK |