She Was the Universe

I had a dream which was not all a dream The sun was extinguished And, the stars wandered dark-ling in space Ray-less, and pathless And, the icy Earth swung blind and blackened in the moonless air And, men forgot their passions in the dread Of this, their desolation And, all hearts were chilled into a selfish prayer for light They did live by watchfires And, the throats of crowned kings Habitations of all things which dwell Were burnt for beacons (Oh, Lord) I lack strength (I lack strength) To turn and leave you There's no confidence (I lack strength) In my hesitation Happy were those who dwelt within the eye of the volcanoes Their mountain-torch: A fearful hope was all the world contained Forests were set on fire But, hour by hour, they fell and faded The crackling trunks extinguished with a crash And all was black The brows of men, by the despairing light, wore an unearthly aspect The flashes fell upon them; Some lay down, and hid their eyes And some did rest their chins upon their clenched hands, and smiled (Oh, Lord) I lack strength (I lack strength) To turn and leave you There's no confidence (I lack strength) In my hesitation She was the universe She was the universe And, vipers crawled And twined themselves among the multitude Hissing, but sting-less They were slain for food -- A meal was bought with blood And each sat apart Gorging himself in gloom No love was left (Oh, Lord) I lack strength (I lack strength) To turn and leave you There's no confidence (I lack strength) In my hesitation (Oh, Lord) I lack strength (I lack strength) To turn and leave you There's no confidence (I lack strength) In my hesitation