The Man Against the Sky: A Book of Poems

Siege Perilous

     Long warned of many terrors more severe
     To scorch him than hell's engines could awaken,
     He scanned again, too far to be so near,
     The fearful seat no man had ever taken.

     So many other men with older eyes
     Than his to see with older sight behind them
     Had known so long their one way to be wise,—
     Was any other thing to do than mind them?

     So many a blasting parallel had seared
     Confusion on his faith,—could he but wonder
     If he were mad and right, or if he feared
     God's fury told in shafted flame and thunder?

     There fell one day upon his eyes a light
     Ethereal, and he heard no more men speaking;
     He saw their shaken heads, but no long sight
     Was his but for the end that he went seeking.

     The end he sought was not the end; the crown
     He won shall unto many still be given.
     Moreover, there was reason here to frown:
     No fury thundered, no flame fell from heaven.