OH POET-WORLD

Oh, Poet World, who have for eons savoured

ere you set stars by stars in verses favoured,

ere every sun, with planetary blossom

circled you turned to strophes by your art lissom,

ere from the chaos of your swirling notions

you conjoined suns in lyrical commotion –

ere to the fledgling Earth you bid: “Vitalize!”,

let the first beats into a youthful heart,

opened up human eyes: “Awe recognize!”

Oh, Poet World! Your paean is eternal!

Your every verse is bursting with life, vernal,

and, having bloomed, its mortal remnants giving

back in your hands, to reuse for the living.

Oh, Poet World! Your paean’s wings span yonder

across the dark abyss, light springs of wonder,

where, where-to, do your chorale’s wings out-spread?!

When o’er the seas, waves swell up from the deep,

when o'er land makes it smoulder in skyward sweep,

when through the skies, worlds watch with baited breath!

Oh, Poet World, what does your paean cover,

what dies, and what, immortal, lives forever!

Within it beauty, all, has place to flourish,

no morning star fails to rise in it, cherished,

no glow, lest that within it, spreading, rushing,

no flower, lest within it, hue-filled, blushing,

no bird throats, lest within it, loudly singing,

nor children’s laughter, lest within it, ringing, –

and yet no tears, lest in its eyes upwelling,

no desperation, lest within it swelling,

no battle, lest within it, raging folly,

no martyr, lest within it, bleeding sorely, –

no yearning, lest within it, through it, sighing,

no love lest that within it, burning, vying,

no heart that with its all, so full of feeling,

does not beat in your paean, anthem reeling!

Oh, Poet World! Of other poets, deity,

and yet – of poets all by diction weighty.

Albeit your paean be all heaven-reaching,

what of it? – of yourself you’re only preaching!

And readers, we, in fervour rapt, enthusing,

feel sure: the poet has felt more than musing!

You have created joy and suffering, dire –

how much your paean’s pained you, few inquire!