The Wild Knight and Other Poems

The Human Tree

Many have Earth's lovers been,

Tried in seas and wars, I ween;

Yet the mightiest have I seen:

Yea, the best saw I.

One that in a field alone

Stood up stiller than a stone

Lest a moth should fly.

Birds had nested in his hair,

On his shoon were mosses rare.

Insect empires flourished there,

Worms in ancient wars;

But his eyes burn like a glass,

Hearing a great sea of grass

Roar towards the stars.

From, them to the human tree

Rose a cry continually,

'Thou art still, our Father, we

Fain would have thee nod.

Make the skies as blood below thee,

Though thou slay us, we shall know thee.

Answer us, O God!

'Show thine ancient flame and thunder,

Split the stillness once asunder,

Lest we whisper, lest we wonder

Art thou there at all?'

But I saw him there alone,

Standing stiller than a stone

Lest a moth should fall.