The Secret Splendour

(After a poem of Nishikanta's)

One curve ethereal white, one earth-embrowned -

A Giant Wheel within some Fair goes round

Upon a timeless pole fixed in each hour.

Bearing its load of lives, the magic power

Moves in perpetual self-oblivion,

A cycle of desire half shade half sun.

But he whose fingers' lone miraculous play

Turns the dream-mystery of gold and gray

 Looks with far eyes of calm where still that strange

Twilight of motion mirrors every change.

 Equal for him the laughing heavenward sweep

And melancholy rhythm back to the deep...

After the rise and fall of a myriad days,

 My vision merges now with his wide gaze

And through all changing cry of colour sees

 One single beauty born of deathless peace -

The dim earth flowering to starry lust,

The nebulas blown like a swirl of dust!

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