Man like Sun

Stretching forth to clouds, mountains, and a land

Sleep-locked, lifting the heavy leaves of death,

Man like sun arises, dark through days

His power condensing. Simpler than grass his breath

Hung first at lips, diaphanous. The ways

Of the wind distrained his hair. Personal desire

Shaped him. Youth and the summer marriage

Fulfilled the image, that lusts and fears, like fish

Here and there fretting his inconstant nature,

Might fall away. Now beyond the soft barrage

Of time, knows he must turn, his lakes of wishing

Steeped, and feel the protective past, with hands

Of a ghost, recoil from the hard trust of his loins.

For he will pass through the sea, whose creature

Movements beat now like the widening quiver :

Of light through his attestant blood. Will join

Many together in the welding of a new love.