The Man Against the Sky: A Book of Poems

Whatever there be, they'll be no more of that;

And there's the Shakespeare in him. So, God help him!

The world went on, their fame went on,
And they went on—from bad to worse;

The most insufferable pair
Of scamps that ever cheered the devil.

All I have to say is what an old man said to me,
And that would seem to be as much as there will ever be.
"Fifty years ago it was we found it where it sat."—
And forty years ago it was old Archibald said that.

Once there was a cabin here, and once there was a man;
And something happened here before my memory began.
Time has made the two of them the fuel of one flame
And all we have of them is now a legend and a name.

Try to look as if the moon were making faces at you,
And a little more as if you meant to stay a little while."—

"Are you to pay for what you have
With all you are?"—No other word
We caught, but with a laughing crowd
Moved on. None heeded, and few heard.

Forbid the sacrifice!

My burden? You would share it?