The Temple

Hear me, brother Boldly I stepped into the Temple, Into the Temple where the God dwells Veiled with Seven Veils, Into the Temple of Unbroken Silence: And my joyous feet shod with crimson sandals Rang out on the tesselated pavement, Rang out fearlessly Like a challenge and a cry! And there—in that shrouded solitude, There—before the Seven Veils, There—because of youth and youth’s madness, Because of love and love’s unresting heart, There did I sing three songs! And my first song praised the eyes of a wanton; And my second song praised the lips of a wanton; And my third song praised the feet of a dancing girl! Thus did I desecrate the Temple, Thus did I stand before the Seven Veils, Proudly! Thus did I wait upon the God’s Voice— Proudly!— And the sudden shaft of death…. But no Voice stirred the Seven Veils, Though I stood long…. And my knees shook, My bones were afraid…. Swiftly I loosed the crimson sandals, And, tearing them from off my feet, Crept shuddering forth! Hear me, brother! Now am I as one stricken with palsy, Now am I sick with the close ache of terror, Now am I as one who, having tasted poison, Cowers, waiting for the pang! For the God spake not…. And the sense of my littleness is upon me: And I am a worm in my own sight, Trodden and helpless; A casual grain of sand Indistinguishable amid a million grains: And I take no pleasure now in youth Nor in youth’s madness, In love Nor in love’s unresting heart; And I praise no longer the eyes of a wanton, Nor the lips of a wanton, Nor the light feet of a dancing girl.