Портрет художника в юності

           Areyounotwearyofardentways,

           Lureofthefallenseraphim?

           Tellnomoreofenchanteddays.

           Theversespassedfromhismindtohislipsand,murmuringthemover,hefelttherhythmicmovementofavillanellepassthroughthem.Therose-likeglowsentforthitsraysofrhyme;ways,days,blaze,praise,raise.Itsraysburneduptheworld,consumedtheheartsofmenandangels:theraysfromtherosethatwasherwilfulheart.

           Youreyeshavesetman’sheartablaze

           Andyouhavehadyourwillofhim.

           Areyounotwearyofardentways?

           Andthen?Therhythmdiedaway,ceased,beganagaintomoveandbeat.Andthen?Smoke,incenseascendingfromthealtaroftheworld.

           Abovetheflamethesmokeofpraise

           Goesupfromoceanrimtorim

           Tellnomoreofenchanteddays.

           Smokewentupfromthewholeearth,fromthevapouryoceans,smokeofherpraise.Theearthwaslikeaswingingswayingcenser,aballofincense,anellipsoidalfall.Therhythmdiedoutatonce;thecryofhisheartwasbroken.Hislipsbegantomurmurthefirstversesoverandover;thenwentonstumblingthroughhalfverses,stammeringandbaffled;thenstopped.Theheart’scrywasbroken.

           Theveiledwindlesshourhadpassedandbehindthepanesofthenakedwindowthemorninglightwasgathering.Abellbeatfaintlyveryfaraway.Abirdtwittered;twobirds,three.