Classic Poem

In the western sky at the close of day,
Over the fading line of the hills, throned in the lapsing fires,
Appeared, O me, O my life's mate,
In guise unmistakable, in mien commanding and supreme,
That other me, that other you,
Subduing the worlds to light.

O sunset god! on your cheek flushing, in your eyes glistening,
The human, making you whole, and the simple wish of a man transfiguring you.

Sunset here, O soul! Sunrise over the hills!
This page is closed, another page is opened,
By these eyes closed others opened, by these lives silent others speaking,
The morrow regnant and royal in this flickering flame.

Did you say, O my life's mate, that you saw nothing — that the space beyond was unfilled?
Look: do you not see your dream confirmed?
Listen: is not that the song that your ideal distilled?
For one minute close your stubborn eyes: you will begin to see!
Again, close your eyes, close them harder: you will see much!
At your heart's threshold then the complete treasury offered.

The colors I saw in the sunset faded, other colors appeared,
And that which to the vision was not plastic, which I could not control,
To the soul became the liberating flame of life,
Melting all arts and songs and all mishaps of common hours to a solution.

O solution, my master! O solution, my slave!
I pour into you life, you pour into me life,
Till both are full, till the mixture is perfect.
And I drain the divine draught,
Sleeping and waking then to new days,
Heaven's eye upon me, my eye upon heaven,
Question and answer at last face to face!