Poems (Bibesco)/III

by Elizabeth Bibesco

III

Oh, I will shut my eyes to see the moon,
Knowing that thus he ever will be there,
Insurgent senses, lock your magic up,
Seal up the visual world however fair.

Then I'll see moons of silver, gold and white,
Dim fading moons escaping in thin mist,
Harsh moons, red hot, that burn into the night
Branding the dark with unforgiving light.

I'll shut my ears to each enticing tune,
A bird may sing, or streams on pebbles play,
Then in my heart such harmonies will ring
As wash the music of the world away.

If I were crippled, deaf and dumb and blind,
And all the colours of the world turned out,
In the grey emptiness I then would find
The answer to the riddle: sight is doubt.

Had I no eyes, how clearly would I see,
Had I no ears, how deeply would I heat,
Freed of all proof at last myself I'd be,
Without confusion, phantasy or fear.