Merlin and The Gleam
O young mariner, You from the haven
Under the sea-cliff, You that are watching
The gray Magician, With eyes of wonder
I am Merlin,
I am dying,
I am Merlin
Who follow The Gleam.
Mighty the Wizard Who found me at sunrise
Sleeping and woke me and learn'd me Magic!
Great the Master, And sweet the Magic,
When over the valley, In early summers,
Over the mountain, On human faces,
And all around me, Moving to melody,
Floated The Gleam.
Once at the croak of a Raven who crost it,
A barbarous people,
Blind to the magic, And deaf to the melody,
Snarl'd at and cursed me. A demon vext me,
The light retreated, The landskip darken'd,
The melody deaden'd, The Master whisper'd
Follow The Gleam.
Then to the melody, Over a wilderness
Gliding, and glancing at Elf of the woodland,
Gnome of the cavern, Griffin and Giant,
And dancing of Fairies in desolate hollows,
And wraiths of the mountain, And rolling of dragons
By warble of water,
Or cataract music Of falling torrents,
Flitted The Gleam.
Down from the mountain And over the level,
And streaming and shining on Silent river,
Silvery willow,
Pasture and plowland, Horses and oxen,
Innocent maidens, Garrulous children,
Homestead and harvest, Reaper and gleaner,
And rough-ruddy faces Of lowly labour,
Slided The Gleam.
