58
Tower of Ivory
Shrilly, shrilly, shrilly,
Flare and flute note trilly,
Hearken, hearken, hearken there,
Shadows dance and darken there,
Hand and hoof and haunches bare
Encircle thee.
O lily, red wood lily,
Flaunting fairy lily,
Never stop the piping of the Pan god's tune:—
"Life's a music hath no word,
Death's a lute no hand has stirred,
Eternity's a rondeau in an old, old rune."
Never stop their piping there,
Never yield them—never spare,
Lest thou dream Christ's lily fair—
More fair than thou.