Near and Far (Blunden)/The Blind Lead the Blind
The Blind Lead the Blind
Dim stars like snowflakes are fluttering in heaven,Down the cloud-mountains by wind-torrents riven;There are still chances, but one more than allSlowly burns out on the sea's dark wall— The best ever given.
One, the divinest, goes down to the dark,In a red sullen vanishing, a poor stifled spark.You, who have reason, were staring at thisAs though by your gaze it would clear the abyss— It was once your sea-mark.
Hear on the shore too the sighed monotonesOf waves that in weakness slip past the purled stones;The seethe of blown sand round the dry fractured hull,Salt-reeds and tusked fence; hear the struck gull With death in his bones.
Slow comes the net in, that's filled with frustration;Night ends the day of thwart discreation;I would be your miracle-worker, sad friend,Bid a music for you and a new star ascend,— But I know isolation.