FungifromYuggoth
I.TheBook
II.Pursuit
III.TheKey
IV.Recognition
V.Homecoming
VI.TheLamp
VII.Zaman'shill
VIII.ThePort
IX.TheCourtyard
X.ThePigeon-Flyers
XI.TheWell
XII.TheHowler
XIII.Hesperia
XIV.Star-Winds
XV.Antarktos
XVI.TheWindow
XVII.AMemory
XVIII.TheGardensofYin
XIX.TheBells
XX.Night-Gaunts
XXI.Nyarlathotep
XXII.Azathoth
XXIII.Mirage
XXIV.TheCanal
XXV.St.toad's
XXVI.TheFamiliars
XXVII.TheElderPharos
XXVIII.Expectancy
XXIX.Nostalgia
XXX.Background
XXXI.TheDweller
XXXII.Alienation
XXXIII.HarbourWhistles
XXXIV.Recapture
XXXV.EveningStar
XXXVI.Continuity
FungifromYuggoth
byHowardPhilipsLovecraft
I.TheBook
Theplacewasdarkanddustyandhalf-lost
Intanglesofoldalleysnearthequays,
Reekingofstrangethingsbroughtinfromtheseas,
Andwithqueercurlsoffogthatwestwindstossed.
Smalllozengepanes,obscuredbysmokeandfrost,
Justshewedthebooks,inpilesliketwistedtrees,
Rottingfromfloortoroof–congeries
Ofcrumblingelderloreatlittlecost.
Ientered,charmed,andfromacobwebbedheap
Tookupthenearesttomeandthumbeditthrough,
Tremblingatcuriouswordsthatseemedtokeep
Somesecret,monstrousifoneonlyknew.
Then,lookingforsomeselleroldincraft,
Icouldfindnothingbutavoicethatlaughed.
II.Pursuit
Iheldthebookbeneathmycoat,atpains
Tohidethethingfromsightinsuchaplace;
Hurryingthroughtheancientharborlanes
Withoften-turningheadandnervouspace.
Dull,furtivewindowsinoldtotteringbrick
PeeredatmeoddlyasIhastenedby,
Andthinkingwhattheysheltered,Igrewsick
Foraredeemingglimpseofcleanbluesky.
Noonehadseenmetakethething–butstill
Ablanklaughechoedinmywhirlinghead,
AndIcouldguesswhatnightedworldsofill
LurkedinthatvolumeIhadcoveted.
Thewaygrewstrange–thewallsalikeandmadding–
Andfarbehindme,unseenfeetwerepadding.
III.TheKey
Idonotknowwhatwindingsinthewaste
Ofthosestrangesea-lanesbroughtmehomeoncemore,
ButonmyporchItrembled,whitewithhaste
Togetinsideandbolttheheavydoor.
Ihadthebookthattoldthehiddenway
Acrossthevoidandthroughthespace-hungscreens
Thatholdtheundimensionedworldsatbay,
Andkeeplostaeonstotheirowndemesnes.
Atlastthekeywasminetothosevaguevisions
Ofsunsetspiresandtwilightwoodsthatbrood
Diminthegulfsbeyondthisearth'sprecisions,
Lurkingasmemoriesofinfinitude.
Thekeywasmine,butasIsattheremumbling,
Theatticwindowshookwithafaintfumbling.
IV.Recognition
Thedayhadcomeagain,whenasachild
Isaw–justonce–thathollowofoldoaks,
Greywithaground-mistthatenfoldsandchokes
Theslinkingshapeswhichmadnesshasdefiled.
Itwasthesame–anherbagerankandwild
Clingsroundanaltarwhosecarvedsigninvokes
ThatNamelessOnetowhomathousandsmokes
Rose,aeonsgone,fromuncleantowersup-piled.
Isawthebodyspreadonthatdankstone,
Andknewthosethingswhichfeastedwerenotmen;
Iknewthisstrange,greyworldwasnotmyown,
ButYuggoth,pastthestarryvoids–andthen
Thebodyshriekedatmewithadeadcry,
AndalltoolateIknewthatitwasI!
V.Homecoming
Thedaemonsaidthathewouldtakemehome
Tothepale,shadowylandIhalfrecalled
Asahighplaceofstairandterrace,walled
Withmarblebalustradesthatsky-windscomb,
Whilemilesbelowamazeofdomeondome
Andtowerontowerbesideasealiessprawled.
Oncemore,hetoldme,Iwouldstandenthralled
Onthoseoldheights,andhearthefar-offfoam.
Allthishepromised,andthroughsunset'sgate
Hesweptme,pastthelappinglakesofflame,
Andred-goldthronesofgodswithoutaname
Whoshriekinfearatsomeimpendingfate.
Thenablackgulfwithsea-soundsinthenight:
"Herewasyourhome,"hemocked,"whenyouhadsight!"
VI.TheLamp
Wefoundthelampinsidethosehollowcliffs
WhosechiseledsignnopriestinThebescouldread,
Andfromwhosecavernsfrightenedhieroglyphs
Warnedeverylivingcreatureofearth'sbreed.
Nomorewasthere–justthatonebrazenbowl
Withtracesofacuriousoilwithin;
Frettedwithsomeobscurelypatternedscroll,
Andsymbolshintingvaguelyofstrangesin.
Littlethefearsoffortycenturiesmeant
Tousasweboreoffourslenderspoil,
Andwhenwescanneditinourdarkenedtent
Westruckamatchtotesttheancientoil.
Itblazed–greatGod!…Butthevastshapeswesaw
Inthatmadflashhavesearedourliveswithawe.
VII.Zaman'shill
Thegreathillhungcloseovertheoldtown,
Aprecipiceagainstthemainstreet'send;
Green,tall,andwooded,lookingdarklydown
Uponthesteepleatthehighwaybend.
Twohundredyearsthewhispershadbeenheard
Aboutwhathappenedontheman-shunnedslope–
Talesofanoddlymangleddeerorbird,
Oroflostboyswhosekinhadceasedtohope.
Onedaythemail-manfoundnovillagethere,
Norwereitsfolkorhousesseenagain;
PeoplecameoutfromAylesburytostare–
Yettheyalltoldthemail-manitwasplain
Thathewasmadforsayinghehadspied
Thegreathill'sgluttonouseyes,andjawsstretchedwide.
VIII.ThePort
TenmilesfromArkhamIhadstruckthetrail
Thatridesthecliff-edgeoverBoyntonBeach,
AndhopedthatjustatsunsetIcouldreach
ThecrestthatlooksonInnsmouthinthevale.
Faroutatseawasaretreatingsail,
Whiteashardyearsofancientwindscouldbleach,
Butevilwithsomeportentbeyondspeech,
SothatIdidnotwavemyhandorhail.
Sailsoutoflnnsmouth!echoingoldrenown
Oflong-deadtimes.Butnowatoo-swiftnight
Isclosingin,andIhavereachedtheheight
WhenceIsooftenscanthedistanttown.
Thespiresandroofsarethere–butlook!Thegloom
Sinksondarklanes,aslightlessasthetomb!
IX.TheCourtyard
ItwasthecityIhadknownbefore;
Theancient,leproustownwheremongrelthrongs
Chanttostrangegods,andbeatunhallowedgongs
Incryptsbeneathfoulalleysneartheshore.
Therotting,fish-eyedhousesleeredatme
Fromwheretheyleaned,drunkandhalf-animate,
AsedgingthroughthefilthIpassedthegate
Totheblackcourtyardwherethemanwouldbe.
Thedarkwallsclosedmein,andloudIcursed
ThateverIhadcometosuchaden,
Whensuddenlyascoreofwindowsburst
Intowildlight,andswarmedwithdancingmen:
Mad,soundlessrevelsofthedraggingdead–
Andnotacorpsehadeitherhandsorhead!
X.ThePigeon-Flyers
Theytookmeslumming,wheregauntwallsofbrick
Bulgeoutwardwithaviscousstored-upevil,
Andtwistedfaces,throngingfoulandthick,
Winkmessagestoaliengodanddevil.
Amillionfireswereblazinginthestreets,
Andfromflatroofsafurtivefewwouldfly
Bedraggledbirdsintotheyawningsky
Whilehiddendrumsdronedonwithmeasuredbeats.
Iknewthosefireswerebrewingmonstrousthings,
AndthatthosebirdsofspacehadbeenOutside–
Iguessedtowhatdarkplanet'scryptstheyplied,
AndwhattheybroughtfromThogbeneaththeirwings.
Theotherslaughed–tillstrucktoomutetospeak
Bywhattheyglimpsedinonebird'sevilbeak.
XI.TheWell
FarmerSethAtwoodwaspasteightywhen
Hetriedtosinkthatdeepwellbyhisdoor,
WithonlyEbtohelphimboreandbore.
Welaughed,andhopedhe'dsoonbesaneagain.
Andyet,instead,youngEbwentcrazy,too,
Sothattheyshippedhimtothecountyfarm.
Sethbrickedthewell-mouthupastightasglue–
Thenhackedanarteryinhisgnarledleftarm.
Afterthefuneralwefeltboundtoget
Outtothatwellandripthebricksaway,
Butallwesawwereironhand-holdsset
Downablackholedeeperthanwecouldsay.
Andyetweputthebricksback–forwefound
Theholetoodeepforanylinetosound.
XII.TheHowler
TheytoldmenottotaketheBriggs'Hillpath
ThatusedtobethehighroadthroughtoZoar,
ForGoodyWatkins,hangedinseventeen-four,
Hadleftacertainmonstrousaftermath.
YetwhenIdisobeyed,andhadinview
Thevine-hungcottagebythegreatrockslope,
Icouldnotthinkofelmsorhempenrope,
Butwonderedwhythehousestillseemedsonew.
Stoppingawhiletowatchthefadingday,
Iheardfainthowls,asfromaroomupstairs,
Whenthroughtheiviedpanesonesunsetray
Struckin,andcaughtthehowlerunawares.
Iglimpsed–andraninfrenzyfromtheplace,
Andfromafour-pawedthingwithhumanface.
XIII.Hesperia
Thewintersunset,flamingbeyondspires
Andchimneyshalf-detachedfromthisdullsphere,
Opensgreatgatestosomeforgottenyear
Ofeldersplendoursanddivinedesires.
Expectantwondersburninthoserichfires,
Adventure-fraught,andnotuntingedwithfear;
Arowofsphinxeswherethewayleadsclear
Towardwallsandturretsquiveringtofarlyres.
Itisthelandwherebeauty'smeaningflowers;
Whereeveryunplacedmemoryhasasource;
WherethegreatriverTimebeginsitscourse
Downthevastvoidinstarlitstreamsofhours.
Dreamsbringusclose–butancientlorerepeats
Thathumantreadhasneversoiledthesestreets.
XIV.Star-Winds
Itisacertainhouroftwilightglooms,
Mostlyinautumn,whenthestar-windpours
Downhilltopstreets,desertedout-of-doors,
Butshewingearlylamplightfromsnugrooms.
Thedeadleavesrushinstrange,fantastictwists,
Andchimney-smokewhirlsroundwithaliengrace,
Heedinggeometriesofouterspace,
WhileFomalhautpeersinthroughsouthwardmists.
Thisisthehourwhenmoonstruckpoetsknow
WhatfungisproutinYuggoth,andwhatscents
AndtintsofflowersfillNithon'scontinents,
Suchasinnopoorearthlygardenblow.
Yetforeachdreamthesewindstousconvey,
Adozenmoreofourstheysweepaway!
XV.Antarktos
Deepinmydreamthegreatbirdwhisperedqueerly
Oftheblackconeamidthepolarwaste;
Pushingabovetheice-sheetloneanddrearly,
Bystorm-crazedaeonsbatteredanddefaced.
Hithernolivingearth-shapestaketheircourses,
Andonlypaleaurorasandfaintsuns
Glowonthatpittedrock,whoseprimalsources
AreguessedatdimlybytheElderOnes.
Ifmenshouldglimpseit,theywouldmerelywonder
WhattrickymoundofNature'sbuildtheyspied;
Butthebirdtoldofvasterparts,thatunder
Themile-deepice-shroudcrouchandbroodandbide.
Godhelpthedreamerwhosemadvisionsshew
Thosedeadeyessetincrystalgulfsbelow!
XVI.TheWindow
Thehousewasold,withtangledwingsoutthrown,
Ofwhichnoonecouldeverhalfkeeptrack,
Andinasmallroomsomewhatneartheback
Wasanoddwindowsealedwithancientstone.
There,inadream-plaguedchildhood,quitealone
Iusedtogo,wherenightreignedvagueandblack;
Partingthecobwebswithacuriouslack
Offear,andwithawondereachtimegrown.
OnelaterdayIbroughtthemasonsthere
Tofindwhatviewmydimforbearshadshunned,
Butastheypiercedthestone,arushofair
Burstfromthealienvoidsthatyawnedbeyond.
Theyfled–butIpeeredthroughandfoundunrolled
Allthewildworldsofwhichmydreamshadtold.
XVII.AMemory
Thereweregreatsteppes,androckytable-lands
Stretchinghalf-limitlessinstarlitnight,
Withaliencampfiressheddingfeeblelight
Onbeastswithtinklingbells,inshaggybands.
Fartothesouththeplainslopedlowandwide
Toadarkzigzaglineofwallthatlay
Likeahugepythonofsomeprimalday
Whichendlesstimehadchilledandpetrified.
Ishiveredoddlyinthecold,thinair,
AndwonderedwhereIwasandhowIcame,
Whenacloakedformagainstacampfire'sglare
Roseandapproached,andcalledmebymyname.
Staringatthatdeadfacebeneaththehood,
Iceasedtohope–becauseIunderstood.
XVIII.TheGardensofYin
Beyondthatwall,whoseancientmasonry
Reachedalmosttotheskyinmoss-thicktowers,
Therewouldbeterracedgardens,richwithflowers,
Andflutterofbirdandbutterflyandbee.
Therewouldbewalks,andbridgesarchingover
Warmlotos-poolsreflectingtempleeaves,
Andcherry-treeswithdelicateboughsandleaves
Againstapinkskywheretheheronshover.
Allwouldbethere,forhadnotolddreamsflung
Openthegatetothatstone-lanternedmaze
Wheredrowsystreamsspinouttheirwindingways,
Trailedbygreenvinesfrombendingbrancheshung?
Ihurried–butwhenthewallrose,grimandgreat,
Ifoundtherewasnolongeranygate.
XIX.TheBells
YearafteryearIheardthatfaint,farringing
Ofdeep-tonedbellsontheblackmidnightwind;
PealsfromnosteepleIcouldeverfind,
Butstrange,asifacrosssomegreatvoidwinging.
Isearchedmydreamsandmemoriesforaclue,
Andthoughtofallthechimesmyvisionscarried;
OfquietInnsmouth,wherethewhitegullstarried
AroundanancientspirethatonceIknew.
AlwaysperplexedIheardthosefarnotesfalling,
TilloneMarchnightthebleakrainsplashingcold
Beckonedmebackthroughgatewaysofrecalling
Toeldertowerswherethemadclapperstolled.
Theytolled–butfromthesunlesstidesthatpour
Throughsunkenvalleysonthesea'sdeadfloor.
XX.Night-Gaunts
Outofwhatcrypttheycrawl,Icannottell,
ButeverynightIseetherubberythings,
Black,horned,andslender,withmembraneouswings,
Andtailsthatbearthebifidbarbofhell.
Theycomeinlegionsonthenorthwind'sswell,
Withobsceneclutchthattitillatesandstings,
Snatchingmeoffonmonstrousvoyagings
Togreyworldshiddendeepinnightmare'swell.
OverthejaggedpeaksofThoktheysweep,
HeedlessofallthecriesItrytomake,
Anddownthenetherpitstothatfoullake
Wherethepuffedshoggothssplashindoubtfulsleep.
Butoh!Ifonlytheywouldmakesomesound,
Orwearafacewherefacesshouldbefound!
XXI.Nyarlathotep
AndatthelastfrominnerEgyptcame
ThestrangedarkOnetowhomthefellahsbowed;
Silentandleanandcrypticallyproud,
Andwrappedinfabricsredassunsetflame.
Throngspressedaround,franticforhiscommands,
Butleaving,couldnottellwhattheyhadheard;
Whilethroughthenationsspreadtheawestruckword
Thatwildbeastsfollowedhimandlickedhishands.
Soonfromtheseaanoxiousbirthbegan;
Forgottenlandswithweedyspiresofgold;
Thegroundwascleft,andmadaurorasrolled
Downonthequakingcitadelsofman.
Then,crushingwhathechancedtomouldinplay,
TheidiotChaosblewEarth'sdustaway.
XXII.Azathoth
Outinthemindlessvoidthedaemonboreme,
Pastthebrightclustersofdimensionedspace,
Tillneithertimenormatterstretchedbeforeme,
ButonlyChaos,withoutformorplace.
HerethevastLordofAllindarknessmuttered
Thingshehaddreamedbutcouldnotunderstand,
Whilenearhimshapelessbat-thingsfloppedandfluttered
Inidiotvorticesthatray-streamsfanned.
Theydancedinsanelytothehigh,thinwhining
Ofacrackedfluteclutchedinamonstrouspaw,
Whenceflowtheaimlesswaveswhosechancecombining
Giveseachfrailcosmositseternallaw.
"IamHisMessenger,"thedaemonsaid,
AsincontempthestruckhisMaster'shead.
XXIII.Mirage
Idonotknowifeveritexisted–
ThatlostworldfloatingdimlyonTime'sstream–
AndyetIseeitoften,violet-misted,
Andshimmeringatthebackofsomevaguedream.
Therewerestrangetowersandcuriouslappingrivers,
Labyrinthsofwonder,andlowvaultsoflight,
Andbough-crossedskiesofflame,likethatwhichquivers
Wistfullyjustbeforeawinter'snight.
Greatmoorsledofftosedgyshoresunpeopled,
Wherevastbirdswheeled,whileonawindswepthill
Therewasavillage,ancientandwhite-steepled,
WitheveningchimesforwhichIlistenstill.
Idonotknowwhatlanditis–ordare
AskwhenorwhyIwas,orwillbe,there.
XXIV.TheCanal
Somewhereindreamthereisanevilplace
Wheretall,desertedbuildingscrowdalong
Adeep,black,narrowchannel,reekingstrong
Offrightfulthingswhenceoilycurrentsrace.
Laneswitholdwallshalfmeetingoverhead
Windofftostreetsonemayormaynotknow,
Andfeeblemoonlightshedsaspectralglow
Overlongrowsofwindows,darkanddead.
Therearenofootfalls,andtheonesoftsound
Isoftheoilywaterasitglides
Understonebridges,andalongthesides
Ofitsdeepflume,tosomevagueoceanbound.
Nonelivestotellwhenthatstreamwashedaway
Itsdream-lostregionfromtheworldofclay.
XXV.St.toad's
"BewareSt.Toad'scrackedchimes!"Iheardhimscream
AsIplungedintothosemadlanesthatwind
Inlabyrinthsobscureandundefined
Southoftheriverwhereoldcenturiesdream.
Hewasafurtivefigure,bentandragged,
Andinaflashhadstaggeredoutofsight,
SostillIburrowedonwardinthenight
Towardwheremoreroof-linesrose,malignandjagged.
Noguide-booktoldofwhatwaslurkinghere–
ButnowIheardanotheroldmanshriek:
"BewareSt.Toad'scrackedchimes!"Andgrowingweak,
Ipaused,whenathirdgreybeardcroakedinfear:
"BewareSt.Toad'scrackedchimes!"Aghast,Ifled–
Tillsuddenlythatblackspireloomedahead.
XXVI.TheFamiliars
JohnWhateleylivedaboutamilefromtown,
Upwherethehillsbegintohuddlethick;
Weneverthoughthiswitswereveryquick,
Seeingthewayhelethisfarmrundown.
Heusedtowastehistimeonsomequeerbooks
He'dfoundaroundtheatticofhisplace,
Tillfunnylinesgotcreasedintohisface,
Andfolksallsaidtheydidn'tlikehislooks.
Whenhebeganthosenight-howlswedeclared
He'dbetterbelockedupawayfromharm,
SothreemenfromtheAylesburytownfarm
Wentforhim–butcamebackaloneandscared.
They'dfoundhimtalkingtotwocrouchingthings
Thatattheirstepflewoffongreatblackwings.
XXVII.TheElderPharos
FromLeng,whererockypeaksclimbbleakandbare
Undercoldstarsobscuretohumansight,
Thereshootsatduskasinglebeamoflight
Whosefarblueraysmakeshepherdswhineinprayer.
Theysay(thoughnonehasbeenthere)thatitcomes
Outofapharosinatowerofstone,
WherethelastElderOnelivesonalone,
TalkingtoChaoswiththebeatofdrums.
TheThing,theywhisper,wearsasilkenmask
Ofyellow,whosequeerfoldsappeartohide
Afacenotofthisearth,thoughnonedaresask
Justwhatthosefeaturesare,whichbulgeinside.
Many,inman'sfirstyouth,soughtoutthatglow,
Butwhattheyfound,noonewilleverknow.
XXVIII.Expectancy
Icannottellwhysomethingsholdforme
Asenseofunplumbedmarvelstobefall,
Orofariftinthehorizon'swall
Openingtoworldswhereonlygodscanbe.
Thereisabreathless,vagueexpectancy,
AsofvastancientpompsIhalfrecall,
Orwildadventures,uncorporeal,
Ecstasy-fraught,andasaday-dreamfree.
Itisinsunsetsandstrangecityspires,
Oldvillagesandwoodsandmistydowns,
Southwinds,thesea,lowhills,andlightedtowns,
Oldgardens,half-heardsongs,andthemoon'sfires.
Butthoughitslurealonemakeslifeworthliving,
Nonegainsorguesseswhatithintsatgiving.
XXIX.Nostalgia
Onceeveryyear,inautumn'swistfulglow,
Thebirdsflyoutoveranoceanwaste,
Callingandchatteringinajoyoushaste
Toreachsomelandtheirinnermemoriesknow.
Greatterracedgardenswherebrightblossomsblow,
Andlinesofmangoesluscioustothetaste,
Andtemple-groveswithbranchesinterlaced
Overcoolpaths–allthesetheirvaguedreamsshew.
Theysearchtheseaformarksoftheiroldshore–
Forthetallcity,whiteandturreted–
Butonlyemptywatersstretchahead,
Sothatatlasttheyturnawayoncemore.
Yetsunkendeepwherealienpolypsthrong,
Theoldtowersmisstheirlost,rememberedsong.
XXX.Background
Inevercanbetiedtoraw,newthings,
ForIfirstsawthelightinanoldtown,
Wherefrommywindowhuddledroofsslopeddown
Toaquaintharbourrichwithvisionings.
Streetswithcarveddoorwayswherethesunsetbeams
Floodedoldfanlightsandsmallwindow-panes,
AndGeorgiansteeplestoppedwithgildedvanes–
Thesewerethesightsthatshapedmychildhooddreams.
Suchtreasures,leftfromtimesofcautiousleaven,
Cannotbutloosetheholdofflimsierwraiths
Thatflitwithshiftingwaysandmuddledfaiths
Acrossthechangelesswallsofearthandheaven.
Theycutthemoment'sthongsandleavemefree
Tostandalonebeforeeternity.
XXXI.TheDweller
IthadbeenoldwhenBabylonwasnew;
Noneknowshowlongitsleptbeneaththatmound,
Whereintheendourquestingshovelsfound
Itsgraniteblocksandbroughtitbacktoview.
Therewerevastpavementsandfoundation-walls,
Andcrumblingslabsandstatues,carvedtoshew
Fantasticbeingsofsomelongago
Pastanythingtheworldofmanrecalls.
Andthenwesawthosestonestepsleadingdown
Throughachokedgateofgravendolomite
Tosomeblackhavenofeternalnight
Whereeldersignsandprimalsecretsfrown.
Weclearedapath–butracedinmadretreat
Whenfrombelowweheardthoseclumpingfeet.
XXXII.Alienation
Hissolidfleshhadneverbeenaway,
Foreachdawnfoundhiminhisusualplace,
Buteverynighthisspiritlovedtorace
Throughgulfsandworldsremotefromcommonday.
HehadseenYaddith,yetretainedhismind,
AndcomebacksafelyfromtheGhooriczone,
Whenonestillnightacrosscurvedspacewasthrown
Thatbeckoningpipingfromthevoidsbehind.
Hewakedthatmorningasanolderman,
Andnothingsincehaslookedthesametohim.
Objectsaroundfloatnebulousanddim–
False,phantomtriflesofsomevasterplan.
Hisfolkandfriendsarenowanalienthrong
Towhichhestrugglesvainlytobelong.
XXXIII.HarbourWhistles
Overoldroofsandpastdecayingspires
Theharbourwhistleschantallthroughthenight;
Throatsfromstrangeports,andbeachesfarandwhite,
Andfabulousoceans,rangedinmotleychoirs.
Eachtotheotheralienandunknown,
Yetall,bysomeobscurelyfocussedforce
FrombroodinggulfsbeyondtheZodiac'scourse,
Fusedintoonemysteriouscosmicdrone.
Throughshadowydreamstheysendamarchingline
Ofstillmoreshadowyshapesandhintsandviews;
Echoesfromoutervoids,andsubtleclues
Tothingswhichtheythemselvescannotdefine.
Andalwaysinthatchorus,faintlyblent,
Wecatchsomenotesnoearth-shipeversent.
XXXIV.Recapture
Thewayleddownadark,half-woodedheath
Wheremoss-greybouldershumpedabovethemould,
Andcuriousdrops,disquietingandcold,
Sprayedupfromunseenstreamsingulfsbeneath.
Therewasnowind,noranytraceofsound
Inpuzzlingshrub,oralien-featuredtree,
Noranyviewbefore–tillsuddenly,
Straightinmypath,Isawamonstrousmound.
Halftotheskythosesteepsidesloomedupspread,
Rank-grassed,andclutteredbyacrumblingflight
Oflavastairsthatscaledthefear-toppedheight
Instepstoovastforanyhumantread.
Ishrieked–andknewwhatprimalstarandyear
Hadsuckedmebackfromman'sdream-transientsphere!
XXXV.EveningStar
Isawitfromthathidden,silentplace
Wheretheoldwoodhalfshutsthemeadowin.
Itshonethroughallthesunset'sglories–thin
Atfirst,butwithaslowlybrighteningface.
Nightcame,andthatlonebeacon,amber-hued,
Beatonmysightasneveritdidofold;
Theeveningstar–butgrownathousandfold
Morehauntinginthishushandsolitude.
Ittracedstrangepicturesonthequiveringair–
Half-memoriesthathadalwaysfilledmyeyes–
Vasttowersandgardens;curiousseasandskies
Ofsomedimlife–Inevercouldtellwhere.
ButnowIknewthatthroughthecosmicdome
Thoserayswerecallingfrommyfar,losthome.
XXXVI.Continuity
Thereisincertainancientthingsatrace
Ofsomedimessence–morethanformorweight;
Atenuousaether,indeterminate,
Yetlinkedwithallthelawsoftimeandspace.
Afaint,veiledsignofcontinuities
Thatoutwardeyescanneverquitedescry;
Oflockeddimensionsharbouringyearsgoneby,
Andoutofreachexceptforhiddenkeys.
Itmovesmemostwhenslantingsunbeamsglow
Onoldfarmbuildingssetagainstahill,
Andpaintwithlifetheshapeswhichlingerstill
Fromcenturieslessadreamthanthisweknow.
InthatstrangelightIfeelIamnotfar
Fromthefixtmasswhosesidestheagesare.