The Oxford Book of Canadian Verse
InscrutableWilliam Carman Roberts (18741941)
H
Made light within that shadowy place,
But on her garments lay the dust
Of many a vanished race.
Saw years and days and hours long dead,
While strange gems glimmered at her feet,
Yellow, and green, and red.
Voices to pierce her heart like flame.
The great bats fanned her with their wings,
The voices called her name.
From the black deep where dreams abide,
Where worlds and pageantries lay dead
Beneath the viewless tide.
Her strong hand propt her chin, and yet
No man might name that look she wore,
Nor any man forget.