The collected poems of James Elroy Flecker/Narcissus (2)

Narcissus

O pool in which we dallied

And splashed the prostrate Noon!

O Water-boy, more pallid

Than any watery moon!

O Lilies round him turning!

O broken Lilies, strewn!

O silver Lutes of Morning!

O Red of the Drums of Noon!

O dusky-plumaged sorrow!

O ebon Swans of Care—

I sought thee on the Morrow,

And never found thee there!

I breathed the vapour-blended

Cloud of a dim despair:

White lily, is it ended?

Gold lily oh, golden hair!

The pool that was thy dwelling

I hardly knew again,

So black it was, and swelling

With bitter wind and rain.

'Mid the bowed leaves I lingered,

Lashed by the blast of Pain,

Till evening, storm-rose-fingered,

Beckoned to night again.

There burst a flood of Quiet

Over the unstellèd skies;

Full moon flashed out a-riot:

Near her I dreamt thine eyes

Afloat with night, still trembling

With captured mysteries:

But sulphured wracks, assembling,

Redarkened the bright skies.

Ah, thou at least art lying

Safe at the white nymph's feet,

Listless, while I, slow-dying,

Twist my gaunt limbs for heat!

Yet I'll to Earth, my Mother:

So, boy, I'll still entreat

Forgive me—for none other

Like Earth is honey-sweet!

(See former version, page 30)