Ultima Thule/The Poet and his Songs

For works with similar titles, see L'Envoi.

L'ENVOI.

THE POET AND HIS SONGS.

As the birds come in the Spring,We know not from where;As the stars come at eveningFrom depths of the air;

As the rain comes from the cloud,And the brook from the ground;As suddenly, low or loud,Out of silence a sound;

As the grape comes to the vine,The fruit to the tree;As the wind comes to the pine,And the tide to the sea;

As come the white sails of shipsO'er the ocean's verge;As comes the smile to the lips,The foam to the surge;

So come to the Poet his songs,All hitherward blownFrom the misty realm, that belongsTo the vast Unknown.

His, and not his, are the laysHe sings; and their fameIs his, and not his; and the praiseAnd the pride of a name.

For voices pursue him by day,And haunt him by night,And he listens, and needs must obey,When the Angel says: "Write!"

END.