ON SEEING THE NEW MOON: PALINODE by CHARLES WILLIAMS

I LOOKED at the young and silver moon to-night
Sitting in heaven alone; at a meet space
In golden agitation Hesperus shone:
Nothing between those gods and me but air.

Much was my grief to remember I oft made light
Of ancient, lovely, credulous tales; the grace
Of the whole world approaching divinity; the unknown
Savour of holy ritual everywhere.

Wise (and I should have known it) were they who said:
@3It is unlucky to see the new moon through glass@1,—
Procul, O procul este, profani! who dares to gaze
On thee from the shelter of windows, O lonely, O fair?

On the farthest reach of the soul is thy influence shed;
And in thee the comforts of busy worlds that pass
Behold a remote far gleam upon virginal ways,
Behold thee, a goddess, a huntress, arrowed and bare.

By streams, or on the high hills, or in windy brakes
Of the woods shall thy maids or those who love thee sing;
Or at worst, in the streets of the town, to the open sky,
Their casements be opened and their entreaties poured.

Therefore, Divinity, now will I bring thee cakes
Broken at cross-roads, and this verse I bring,
And an oath that in time to come if this moon go by
The windows shall all be wide and thou be adored.

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