Roads

        Why go the west road now?
The youth who raced the sea-storm’s ire,
‘Mid heaving trees and hissing wire,
        Has lost his name somehow.
        Why go the west road now?

        Why go the south road now?
Those ivied walls—like climbing light ! —
Yet we who swore to van the fight
        Dimmed our luminous vow.
        Why go the south road now?

        Why go the north road now?
The rush, as if no time to spare,
To mountains fixed in snowy air,
        Old knees will not allow.
        Why go the north road now?

        Why go the east road now?
Her love of me so time-away—
In a desert land, and safe to say,
        Faded anyhow…
        Why go the east road now?

        Why go any road at all?
Winter comes in dragging chain,
Frosted breath, and soon the rain
        Turns to snowfall.
        Why go any road at all?



Cf. T.H.