Fling the Stars

Fling the stars into the scattered sky
Kindle the moon, and lay
The glittering mosaic of heaven;
Build a bed of clouds, and lay thee down.

And all night as I slept the wind and the starlight shifted, and the curtains crept into the room and fled back out. One turn of the wrist different, and I could have been running with the wind. I will not be a miser, fingering my carefully counted regrets in a locked cupboard; but this, this I do regret.

The shadow of your moon-silvered hair, the flicker of impudent eyes, the lift of a pale shoulder. I am mute, delivered wordless to your gathering disaster. All things drawing to a point.

My days have crackled and gone up in smoke,
Have puffed and burst as sun-starts on a stream.