The Return

Ripostes 1912

See, they return; ah, see the tentativeMovements, and the slow feet,The trouble in the pace and the uncertainWavering!

See, they return, one by one,With fear, as half-awakened;As if the snow should hesitateAnd murmur in the wind,and half turn back;These were the “Wing’d-with-Awe,“Inviolable.

Gods of the Wingd shoe!With them the silver hounds,sniffing the trace of air!

Haie! Haie!These were the swift to harry;These the keen-scented;These were the souls of blood.

Slow on the leash,pallid the leash-men!

“The Return” From Ripostes (1912)