FRIEND, I pray thee, who be they That do roam adown the day With such lorn and lifeless stride, Wan of face and weary-eyed? Ho, ye wanderers, pinched and pale, On what long unbeaten trail Go ye? -- on what unknown quest? @3Thus the hapless ones confessed; -- "Seek we east and seek we west, For the sacred chrism of rest!"@1 "Hold," the curious questioner said, "For a space thy toilsome tread; Haply nearer than ye dream Is the balm ye so esteem!" Then upon him full they turned Eyes in whose dull embers burned Longing, as a sleepless guest. @3"Ah," they sighed, "then were we blessed, Seeking east, and seeking west, For the sacred chrism of rest!"@1 "I," the questioner said, "will guide To the bourn so sanctified; Follow me, and ye shall see Where the haunts of heart's-ease be!" Wotted then the seekers well 'T was the angel Azrael, And they bowed at his behest. @3"Aye," they answered, "it is best! Seeking east, and seeking west, We have found the chrism of rest!"@1 | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THE CHINESE NIGHTINGALE; A SONG IN CHINESE TAPESTRIES by NICHOLAS VACHEL LINDSAY DEAR MINNA by MAXWELL BODENHEIM MILTON AT CRIPPLEGATE by CHARLES WILLIAM BRODRIBB THE KIND WORD by ADA CAMBRIDGE TOWARDS DEMOCRACY: PART 3. OF ALL THE SUFFERING by EDWARD CARPENTER THE VIRGIN OF ALBERT (NOTRE DAME DE BREBIERES) by GEORGE HERBERT CLARKE |