THE INQUEST
Not labour kills us; no, nor joy:
The incredulity and frown,
The interference and annoy,
The small attritions wear us down.
The little gnat-like buzzings shrill,
The hurdy-gurdies of the street,
The common curses of the will --
These wrap the cerements round our feet.
And more than all, the look askance
Of loving souls that cannot gauge
The numbing touch of circumstance,
The heavy toll of heritage.
It is not Death, but Life that slays:
The night less mountainously lies
Upon our lids, than foolish day's
Importunate futilities!
Not labour kills us; no, nor joy:
The incredulity and frown,
The interference and annoy,
The small attritions wear us down.
The little gnat-like buzzings shrill,
The hurdy-gurdies of the street,
The common curses of the will --
These wrap the cerements round our feet.
And more than all, the look askance
Of loving souls that cannot gauge
The numbing touch of circumstance,
The heavy toll of heritage.
It is not Death, but Life that slays:
The night less mountainously lies
Upon our lids, than foolish day's
Importunate futilities!