The Old Century

The gates of Death and Life are open now, 
And o'er the first gate hangs an almond bough 
Thick-flowered with blossom, but without a leaf; 
And o'er the second gate a beech bough swings,
Full of green leaves and rustling with birds' wings, 
Less fair than almond-blossom, not so brief. 
And near the door of Death the century stands 
With eyes that brim with wonder and with grief— 
An empty scabbard in her withered hands.
Men's blood is on her feet, her breast bears scars 
Borne out of many wars.
Her eyes are tired with looking out across
Gray leagues of loss.
The smile upon her mouth is like the smile 
Lips of the dead wear for a little while 
Ere clay is given back again to clay,
And mourners from the graveside turn away. 
The rose upon her cheek is pale, the hair,
That once was golden as the garlands there, 
Upon pale brows falls gray. 
She has her back turned to the coming day, 
To-morrow has no more to her to say — 
Yesterday speaks too loudly in her ears. 
Voices that cried at Waterloo she hears,
Behind her are the mists that overran
The camps that slept and waked at Inkerman; 
Red sands of Egypt in her tresses gleam 
Instead of rubies: she has dreamed the dream 
Held by the Sphinx in sleepless eyes of stone. 
About her waist for zone 
A sacred snake, wrought out of Indian gold,
Coils, fold on gleaming fold. 
Its head is on a wound an Indian sword 
Made, when, at bidding of the tiger-lord, 
Men slew babe, maid, and mother, and a well 
Ran blood instead of water. This befell 
Long, long ago, but in her haunted eyes 
Its picture never dies. 
She has seen kingdoms won and islands given,
Deserts reclaimed, kings into exile driven, 
And she is weary. For a hundred years 
Has she not wept hot tears,
And smiled and laughed? And now her course is run
And she is facing to the westering sun, 
She need not smile nor weep, but evermore 
Peace shall she have, because her work is done. 
The almond-blossoms pave the way she goes; 
Her children call her blessed, and none knows 
If lief or loath she passes through the door.