The Mad Philosopher

They let him wander as he will
By wood and river, vale and hill,
Though snapped by madness are the strings
Of his wan mind's imaginings.

And often his sad spirit's breath
Will chant of life and love and death,
Twanging upon the broken ends
Of strings that some chance moment mends.

'The harlot moon still clings to earth,'
He croons, 'though love's of little worth.
Cold as the spirit of a star
Her lips and eyes and bosom are…

'Within some sky beyond the sky
There is a whisper, Why, Why, Why?
If I could climb the wind to it,
Of frenzy earth should soon be quit.

'A person lives that men call God.
I caught Him once within a clod.
He is not really God at all,
But only atoms that can crawl.

' Hey diddle, many sorrows be
Within the womb of destiny.
That's why the thrush will chant all day—
To keep from hearing men who pray ..

'The sweet, sweet herb of happiness
Grows ever less, and less, and less.
I'm sure it is because men look
At their own image in the brook.

'A bride is such a lily thing;
She lets you bind her with a ring.
I see Queen Gwin and Lancelot—
But Arthur's face is all a blot…

'Lean down and I will tell you why
The stars are lighted in the sky.
They are for tapers on the bier
Of—hush! don't say it: He is near….

'The owl is hooting what o'clock
The Judgment Day at last shall knock.
But time who whips us to the grave
Is the one saviour who can save….

'I'll vow it, though to Hell I'm sunk:
God with the whole world's tears is drunk.
That's why He is not God at all
But only atoms that can crawl….

'Aye, doubt! But when the lightning's knout
Splits the sky's skull do Brains fall out?
There's sun and moon and sky and sea
And worm and ape—and you and me….

'Yet if you love a maid then all
The atoms do not seem to crawl
So heartlessly: though why it is
Can be no business of His.'….

So sings he in the little whiles
That health again half on him smiles,
Twanging the sadly broken strings
Of his poor mind's imaginings.