Classic Poem

1

T HERE'S a by-road the saints fear,
And the wizards seek in vain;
Ayont the day 'tis quite near,
Yet the way of it is too queer
For me to make it plain;
But we find our track by the Zodiac,
Then a body parts in twain,
And we be lift in a mode to the mere
Mass a madness vain,
A dream or delusion vain.
Yolana avie avie avie!
Yolana vekana vor!

2

But what and O! what may the mass know
Of the things that are done of us?
On the round hill where we go
To bide our time in the pale glow
For Yolana marvellous?
And visions evoke by sweet smoke
And breathings tremulous?
Nay, the sound of words may not show
The things that are done of us —
Remotely done of us!
Yolana avie avie avie!
Yolana vekana vor!

3

A gold star in the West glow'd
Thro' a night obscurely clear;
'Twas the dry time when the winds bode
Thro' the treetops, and the tree toad
Answers eerily;
The dwarf came with the swart name
A-whispering in my ear;
And I nodded and took the by-road
Thro' the night obscurely clear
As a smoky-topaz is clear.
Yolana avie avie avie!
Yolana vekana vor!

4

Where the lone pine tree flings
A ragged shadow down
We light the fire, and the dwarf sings
To keep away the bad things
That glimmer about and frown,
As we mix the wine and make the sign
They made in the sunken town: —
Then O! a glory of light wings
Bearing Yolana down!
Yolana avie avie avie!
Yolana vekana vor!

5

But what and O! what may the mass know
Of the things that are done of us?
On the round hill where we go
To slumber in the pale glow
Of planets pendulous?
And out of the skies materialize
Yolana marvellous?
Nay, the sound of words may not show
The things that are done of us —
Remotely done of us!
Yolana avie avie avie!
Yolana vekana vor!

6

On the twinkling stones of fairy
When Yolana comes!
All set in the greenest jewelry,
While the magic smoke goes bluely
From the burning magic gums!
And we troll the chants in a ghost-dance
To the monotone of drums,
Till we lapse for sheer enchantery
When Yolana comes!
Yolana avie avie avie!
Yolana vekana vor!