Francis Thompson (1857 - 1907): The Singer Saith Of His Song

The touches of man's modern speech

   Perplex her unacquainted tongue;

There seems through all her songs a sound

   Of falling tears. She is not young.



Within her eyes' profound arcane

   Resides the glory of her dreams;

Behind her secret cloud of hair,

   She sees the Is beyond the Seems.



Her heart sole-towered in her steep spirit,

   Somewhat sweet is she , somewhat wan;

And she sings the songs of Sion

   By the streams of Babylon.




From "Complete Poems Of Francis Thompson"
The Modern Library, New York, 1913