The Earth voices

Arise now, tread out the fire!

Scatter the ashes of a God through the stars.

Forget to hope and aspire.

Let us paint our prison, let us strengthen its bars.

Lo, now he is dead and the greatness that cumbered the world and Time’s ways

Has vanished like a golden shadow thrust out from the anguish of the ages;

The glory and burden, the sunlight and the passion have left our days;

Once more we can wear the grey livery of Death and gather in his wages.

All that drew back from his splendour fleeing as ashamed from the light and the beauty and invincible sweetness

Now returns vaunting their¹ darkness and littleness, this fret of life’s fever, its cruel and sad incompleteness.