Ego
The sea is a dragon coiled and crowned
Strange hues wreathing the whole earth round.
The sea is a Tomb with crypt and roof
Where the bones of the brave are walled in proof.
The well shall mirror thy face to thee
There is naught but foam on the face of the sea.
This is the word the wise man says
Thread the ways of the grey sea-maze.
Be torn and ground by the sea-fangs fell
Only look not into the well.
Scarlet and gold the poppies there
Through brown dusk as a fire-hedge flare.
Through fire and fragrance I thrust apace
I looked in the well and saw my face.
I saw my face and the face was fair —
Better the deep sea choked me there.
Methought I stood in the shining street
Filled with the rush of many feet.
Face after face the faces pass,
God's hand shatter the cursed glass.
Methought I stood where the spirits pass
Glassed in the seas of fire and glass.
Richly plumed as an autumn wood
Great and gorgeous the angels stood.
Beneath dark feet did the fireglass gleam
Their faces were my face in a dream.
For he that seeth his face in the well
Sees it in heaven and earth and hell.
Methought I saw in the skies alone
One that sat on a great white throne.
His robes were braided of rose and gold
With buried daybreaks and sunsets old.
But across his visage a great cloud sat
For no man liveth that looks thereat.
The cloud was rimmed with an edge of fire
Because it hideth the world's desire.
Face after face the faces came
Only the faces were all the same.
Face after face the faces shine
Only that every face was mine.
Gold and ruby and blue and green
Every garb had a varied sheen.
Then the cloud 'gan break in the kindling air
And my soul surged up in a frantic prayer.
" Strike me dead, of thy mercy's sake
Dead and damned ere the great cloud break.
Plunder a man of bride and friends
Of all that his own soul comprehends.
But take not out of his wretched lot
The thing that he comprehendeth not.
I saw a child on a windy fell
Yea, as I passed I loved him well.
His yellow head in the deep grassed hills
With the yellow heads of the daffodils.
His face was bright, with the fields behind,
His hair was full of the sun and wind.
Yea, for a baby's gold heads sake
Strike me dead ere the grey cloud break.
For he that seeth his face in the well
Sees it in heaven and earth and hell
Save my brow, where the earth's light fell
From the star of a huge sin new in hell.
Let me not look and see mine own
Face and form on the great white throne. "
Veins as of gold the grey cloud rive
Who shall look upon God alive?
The grey cloud sundered and slid away
God's face shown is the judgement day.
And high in a clearness crowned and isled
The face of God was the face of the child.
Strange hues wreathing the whole earth round.
The sea is a Tomb with crypt and roof
Where the bones of the brave are walled in proof.
The well shall mirror thy face to thee
There is naught but foam on the face of the sea.
This is the word the wise man says
Thread the ways of the grey sea-maze.
Be torn and ground by the sea-fangs fell
Only look not into the well.
Scarlet and gold the poppies there
Through brown dusk as a fire-hedge flare.
Through fire and fragrance I thrust apace
I looked in the well and saw my face.
I saw my face and the face was fair —
Better the deep sea choked me there.
Methought I stood in the shining street
Filled with the rush of many feet.
Face after face the faces pass,
God's hand shatter the cursed glass.
Methought I stood where the spirits pass
Glassed in the seas of fire and glass.
Richly plumed as an autumn wood
Great and gorgeous the angels stood.
Beneath dark feet did the fireglass gleam
Their faces were my face in a dream.
For he that seeth his face in the well
Sees it in heaven and earth and hell.
Methought I saw in the skies alone
One that sat on a great white throne.
His robes were braided of rose and gold
With buried daybreaks and sunsets old.
But across his visage a great cloud sat
For no man liveth that looks thereat.
The cloud was rimmed with an edge of fire
Because it hideth the world's desire.
Face after face the faces came
Only the faces were all the same.
Face after face the faces shine
Only that every face was mine.
Gold and ruby and blue and green
Every garb had a varied sheen.
Then the cloud 'gan break in the kindling air
And my soul surged up in a frantic prayer.
" Strike me dead, of thy mercy's sake
Dead and damned ere the great cloud break.
Plunder a man of bride and friends
Of all that his own soul comprehends.
But take not out of his wretched lot
The thing that he comprehendeth not.
I saw a child on a windy fell
Yea, as I passed I loved him well.
His yellow head in the deep grassed hills
With the yellow heads of the daffodils.
His face was bright, with the fields behind,
His hair was full of the sun and wind.
Yea, for a baby's gold heads sake
Strike me dead ere the grey cloud break.
For he that seeth his face in the well
Sees it in heaven and earth and hell
Save my brow, where the earth's light fell
From the star of a huge sin new in hell.
Let me not look and see mine own
Face and form on the great white throne. "
Veins as of gold the grey cloud rive
Who shall look upon God alive?
The grey cloud sundered and slid away
God's face shown is the judgement day.
And high in a clearness crowned and isled
The face of God was the face of the child.
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