Poems (Young)/The Star of Knowledge
THE STAR OF KNOWLEDGE.
Thou hast the golden glory of the day
For trailing garment worn by women folk,
And night about thee like a purple cloak,
But evermore thy head is turned away.
Austere thou goest where the starry spray
Beats on the verge of time with rhythmic stroke:
Far off I follow, for my soul awoke
And knew thee passing without smile or stay.
Once face to face with thee Odysseus came
In the lone island when the gods had hurled
His ship to ruin on an alien sea,
And I may reach thee, Ashless Heart of Flame,
When I have wrecked for thee the narrow world
Fate built about me, and my soul is free.
For trailing garment worn by women folk,
And night about thee like a purple cloak,
But evermore thy head is turned away.
Austere thou goest where the starry spray
Beats on the verge of time with rhythmic stroke:
Far off I follow, for my soul awoke
And knew thee passing without smile or stay.
Once face to face with thee Odysseus came
In the lone island when the gods had hurled
His ship to ruin on an alien sea,
And I may reach thee, Ashless Heart of Flame,
When I have wrecked for thee the narrow world
Fate built about me, and my soul is free.