WHEN I was weary And sick and poor, Christ and Antichrist Came to my door,— Baal of the flies From his marshy sell And from the high hills Immanuel, Each with a promise, Each for a guide, Since amid falling walls I might no more abide. 'Here is drink to comfort, To ease, to bid arise, To strengthen for thy journey,' Quoth Baal of the flies. 'Since thou canst dwell no more In thy wrecked abode, Come, and ere thou goest On an infinite road, Prove all thy heart's content With me for an hour, Ere thou travel forward In comfortable power.' 'Here is drink for promise,' Quoth Immanuel, 'Of that which shall await thee In the holy well At the joyous heavenly end Of an infinite way. Since thou canst dwell no more In this wrecked To-day, Come, and when the journey At last is overspent Thou with me shalt understand All thy content.' Then I fell before them, Crying: 'Ah my lords, Who am I to compass Such immortal words? Is thy satisfaction Of such full avail It can give me longing, O my master Baal, For any moment Of any life at all In the melancholy shadows That about thee fall? Not for thy temptations From heaven did I flee! Talk thou with thy lovers Lord, depart from me! 'Nor, though not by Satan Shall my drink be spiced, Dare I touch thy goblet, O my master Christ! Have I ever prayed thee To be among thy saints, At whose crucifixion My poor soul faints? Thou with peaks and chasms Ere the long way end, Art thou that Forgetfulness I would have for friend? Not to find thy martyrdom Have I fled from hell; Thou hast many heroes, Bid me farewell!' Low I fell before them, Crying: 'Ah my lords, Who am I to compass Your immortal words? This have all things taught me, To desire no more Than to be the dust again That I was before! But who of all the high gods In heaven or hell Hath such a draught as I would buy, Hath such draught to sell?' | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THE STORY OF SEVENTY-SIX by WILLIAM CULLEN BRYANT SCHOOLTEACHER by ANGELO PHILIP BERTOCCI THE FOUR ZOAS: NIGHTS THE FIFTH AND SIXTH by WILLIAM BLAKE RIDDLE OF GOD by PAUL SOUTHWORTH BLISS DESERTED DERRICK by MARY ELIZABETH BRANTLEY THE FOUR WINDS by MAXWELL STRUTHERS BURT |