Classic Poem

whether before have been
Men in these valleys …
Whether, beneath the sand here, beneath the shallow
Earth are ashes, are fragments of jars, are the snow-worn
Limbs of goddesses …

whether these now
 I see in the dim air are men as I am
 Wandering in this land
how shall I know?
 How shall we speak together of this saying
 You … You too … You too have felt … You also
 At night waking … Oh at night! … And walking
 Under the trees at evening … the trees! … You too! …

Whether these man faces
Come! Be honest!
 Why will you not reply to me? Why do you always
 Not understand what I say? I know your faces.
 I know your names too. Nevertheless
 You are not friendly to me; you are not of my people.

As for the place I go to—
we seek water.
The water here is salt. We have seen neither
Birds nor green leaves since we found this country.
Why will you never listen? Why do you always
Turn your eyes away when I speak to you? Tell me,
Do none of you fear this place as I fear it?
Who has sent you to me? You have been sent
As spies. You are not friendly.

It may be
 They are not there! …

or whether alone I
Of all men I only have passed these mountains.