Orpheus

Or saddening smile, the laughter not forbidden And love enfolding the green-woven sphere : Lastly, the burning year of flame and fume That burns men up in fire’s sepulchral womb. Fivefold: the child, the frail, the delicate: Then the strong laughing mischief: then the proud Fight toward manhood and the sense elate, Creative power and passion : then the loud Assertion of young will, the quickening rate And strength in blood, in youth with life endowed, And firmness fastening; the last lustre’s span Consolidates and shows the perfect man. Fivefold : the humour changes as his child Calls him first “father” ; sense of strength divine Fills him; then man’s work in the world, and wild Efforts to fame: then steadier in the shrine Burns the full flame: then, turning, the years piled Seem suddenly a burden ; then the fine Flavour of full maturity is tasted : . The man looks back, and asks if life be wasted. Fivefold : delight in woman altering To joy of sunlight only: love of life Changing to fear of death: the golden spring Trembles ; he hates the cold, the winter strife, Laughs not with lust of combat: feebly cling His old hands: he has sepultured his wife: Last, palsied, shaking, drawing tremorous breath, He gasps—and stumbles in the pit of death. 87