1914, and Other Poems

<p><span class="pagenum"><SPAN name="Page_47" id="Page_47">[Pg 47]</SPAN></span></p> <div class="poem"><span class="i0 headstyle">THE NIGHT JOURNEY</span></div> <div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> <span class="i0">Hands and lit faces eddy to a line;<br/></span> <span class="i1">The dazed last minutes click; the clamour dies.<br/></span> <span class="i0">Beyond the great-swung arc o' the roof, divine,<br/></span> <span class="i1">Night, smoky-scarv'd, with thousand coloured eyes<br/></span></div> <div class="stanza"> <span class="i0">Glares the imperious mystery of the way.<br/></span> <span class="i1">Thirsty for dark, you feel the long-limbed train<br/></span> <span class="i0">Throb, stretch, thrill motion, slide, pull out and sway,<br/></span> <span class="i1">Strain for the far, pause, draw to strength again....<br/></span></div> <div class="stanza"> <span class="i0">As a man, caught by some great hour, will rise,<br/></span> <span class="i1">Slow-limbed, to meet the light or find his love;<br/></span> <span class="i0">And, breathing long, with staring sightless eyes,<br/></span> <span class="i1">Hands out, head back, agape and silent, move<br/></span></div> <div class="stanza"> <span class="i0">Sure as a flood, smooth as a vast wind blowing;<br/></span> <span class="i1">And, gathering power and purpose as he goes,<br/></span> <span class="i0">Unstumbling, unreluctant, strong, unknowing,<br/></span> <span class="i1">Borne by a will not his, that lifts, that grows,<br/></span></div> <div class="stanza"> <span class="i0">Sweep out to darkness, triumphing in his goal,<br/></span> <span class="i1">Out of the fire, out of the little room....<br/></span> <span class="i0">&mdash;There is an end appointed, O my soul!<br/></span> <span class="i1">Crimson and green the signals burn; the gloom<br/></span></div> <div class="stanza"> <span class="i0">Is hung with steam's far-blowing livid streamers.<br/></span> <span class="i1">Lost into God, as lights in light, we fly,<br/></span> <span class="i0">Grown one with will, end-drunken huddled dreamers.<br/></span> <span class="i1">The white lights roar. The sounds of the world die.<br/></span> <span class="pagenum"><SPAN name="Page_48" id="Page_48">[Pg 48]</SPAN></span></div> <div class="stanza"> <span class="i0">And lips and laughter are forgotten things.<br/></span> <span class="i1">Speed sharpens; grows. Into the night, and on,<br/></span> <span class="i0">The strength and splendour of our purpose swings.<br/></span> <span class="i1">The lamps fade; and the stars. We are alone.<br/></span></div> </div> <hr class="large" /> <div style="break-after:column;"></div><br />