Elijah Browning

 I was among multitudes of children
Dancing at the foot of a mountain.

A breeze blew out of the east and swept them as leaves,
Driving some up the slopes.
.
.
.
 All was changed.

Here were flying lights, and mystic moons, and dream-music.

A cloud fell upon us.
 When it lifted all was changed.

I was now amid multitudes who were wrangling.

Then a figure in shimmering gold, and one with a trumpet,
And one with a sceptre stood before me.

They mocked me and danced a rigadoon and vanished.
.
.
.

All was changed again.
 Out of a bower of poppies
A woman bared her breasts and lifted her open mouth to mine.

I kissed her.
 The taste of her lips was like salt.

She left blood on my lips.
 I fell exhausted.

I arose and ascended higher, but a mist as from an iceberg
Clouded my steps.
 I was cold and in pain.

Then the sun streamed on me again,
And I saw the mists below me hiding all below them.

And I, bent over my staff, knew myself
Silhouetted against the snow.
 And above me
Was the soundless air, pierced by a cone of ice,
Over which hung a solitary star!
A shudder of ecstasy, a shudder of fear
Ran through me.
 But I could not return to the slopes --
Nay, I wished not to return.

For the spent waves of the symphony of freedom
Lapped the ethereal cliffs about me.

Therefore I climbed to the pinnacle.

I flung away my staff.

I touched that star
With my outstretched hand.

I vanished utterly.

For the mountain delivers to Infinite Truth
Whosoever touches the star!

Biography | Poems | Best Poems | Short Poems | Quotes | Email Poem |

Poems are below...