Orpheus

Darkens the blue pool’s silver mirror ? How bursts the mountain-chasm asunder ? Whose voice reverberates in thunder Muttering what curse? The sun dissolves In anguish; the mad moon revolves Like a wild thing about its cage ; The stars are shaken in the rage Of—who but Zeus? Before our gaze, (My love’s in shuddering amaze, Of birth deceived and death forlorn, And mine in anger, ay! and scorn !) He stood—the mighty One! So earth And heaven proclaimed that fearful birth: So they grew silent lest he curse. Dead silence hushed the universe; And then in clear calm tones he spoke: “Fools! who have meddled, and awoke The inmost forces of the world! One lightning from my hand had hurled Both to annihilation’s brink. What foolish goddess bade ye think Ye thus could play with thunder, roll Your wheels upon the world, control The stately being of a soul? Just am I ever! Therefore know The unrevengeful law of woe That ye invoke. Thou seekest life, Child of my water! Thou a wife, Child of my sun! Draw living breath, Maiden, and gain the guerdon—death ! 146