Nightpiece

Nightpiece


(Trieste, 22 January 1915)




Gaunt in gloom



The pale stars their torches



Enshrouded wave.



Ghostfires from heaven's far verges faint illume



Arches on soaring arches,



Night's sindark nave.







Seraphim



The lost hosts awaken



To service till



In moonless gloom each lapses, muted, dim



Raised when she has and shaken



Her thurible.

And long and loud



To night's nave upsoaring



A starknell tolls



As the bleak incense surges, cloud on cloud,



Voidward from the adoring



Waste of souls.