I fled Him, down the nights and down the days;
I fled Him, down the arches of the years;
I fled Him, down the labyrinthine ways Of my own mind; and in the mist of tears I hid from Him, and under running laughter.
Up vistaed hopes, I sped;
And shot, precipitated Adown Titanic glooms of chasmed fears, From those strong Feet that followed, followed after.
But with unhurrying chase, And unperturbed pace, Deliberate speed, majestic instancy, They beat--and a Voice beat More instant than the Feet -
"All things betray thee, who betrayest Me."
I pleaded, outlaw-wise, By many a hearted casement, curtained red, Trellised with intertwining charities;
(For, though I knew His love Who followed, Yet was I sore adread Lest, having Him, I must have naught beside)
But, if one little casement parted wide, The gust of His approach would clash it to Fear wist not to evade, as Love wist to pursue.
Across the margent of the world I fled, And troubled the gold gateways of the stars, Smiting for shelter on their changed bars;
Fretted to dulcet jars And silvern chatter the pale ports o' the moon.
I said to dawn: Be sudden--to eve: Be soon;
With thy young skiey blossoms heap me over From this tremendous Lover!
Float thy vague veil about me, lest He see!
I tempted all His servitors, but to find My own betrayal in their constancy, In faith to Him their fickleness to me, Their traitorous trueness, and their loyal deceit.
To all swift things for swiftness did I sue;
Clung to the whistling mane of every wind.
But whether they swept, smoothly fleet, The long savannahs of the blue;
Or whether, Thunder-driven, They clanged his chariot 'thwart a heaven, Plashy with flying lightnings round the spurn o' their feet:-
Fear wist not to evade as Love wist to pursue.
Still with unhurrying chase, And unperturbed pace, Deliberate speed, majestic instancy, Came on the following Feet, And a Voice above their beat -
"Naught shelters thee, who wilt not shelter Me."
I sought no more that, after which I strayed, In face of man or maid;
But still within the little children's eyes Seems something, something that replies, THEY at least are for me, surely for me!
I turned me to them very wistfully;
But just as their young eyes grew sudden fair With dawning answers there, Their angel plucked them from me by the hair.
"Come then, ye other children, Nature's--share With me" (said I) "your delicate fellowship;
Let me greet you lip to lip, Let me twine with you caresses, Wantoning With our Lady-Mother's vagrant tresses, Banqueting With her in her wind-walled palace, Underneath her azured dais, Quaffing, as your taintless way is, From a chalice Lucent-weeping out of the dayspring.'
So it was done:
I in their delicate fellowship was one -
Drew the bolt of Nature's secrecies.
I knew all the swift importings On the wilful face of skies;
I knew how the clouds arise Spumed of the wild sea-snortings;
All that's born or dies Rose and drooped with--made them shapers Of mine own moods, or wailful or divine -
With them joyed and was bereaven.
I was heavy with the even, When she lit her glimmering tapers Round the day's dead sanctities.
I laughed in the morning's eyes.
I triumphed and I saddened with all weather, Heaven and I wept together, And its sweet tears were salt with mortal mine;
