Classic Poem

Say not, with such as do delight in lies,
That this love is religious — or this, profane.
Say only that the God with august eyes
Is cognizant of beauty and of pain.
Within our undivided sky is set
The Zodiac, with planetary powers.
Oh, sunder not our starry alphabet
With all the godlike meanings that are ours;
But rather, with its austere script, translate
Our human entities into such glories
As are the deeds of gods in mighty stories —
And change ourselves to a more starry state.

Since we may have, according to our wish,
The pattern of our choice — let us not tear
The seamless garment, nor rend the crystal bars.
Oh, cry not out upon the Shining Fish —
Say not, " This is the Scorpion, this the Bear" —
But say " Here is the god among the stars."