Jessie B. Rittenhouse, ed. (1869–1948). The Second Book of Modern Verse. 1922.

Voyage à l’Infini

THE SWAN existing

Is like a song with an accompaniment

Imaginary.

Across the grassy lake,

Across the lake to the shadow of the willows,

It is accompanied by an image,

—as by Debussy’s

“Reflets dans l’eau”.

The swan that is

Reflects

Upon the solitary water—breast to breast

With the duplicity:

“The other one!”

And breast to breast it is confused.

O visionary wedding! O stateliness of the procession!

It is accompanied by the image of itself

Alone.

At night

The lake is a wide silence,

Without imagination.