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TIDES
(From a fragment, by me here contorted, of W.B.Yeats in "Responibilities", 1914, quoting Khoung Fou Tseu / Kung Fu Tze / Konfucius : "...I have not seen the Prince of Chang in my dreams.")
The Prince of Charms now quietly stands
in the living foam on the swimming sands.
The neap-tide of Time, momentarily still,
waits to creep in with its numbing chill
that spreads from bare-sole to circling-crown,
shiveringly sweeping, up, o'er, then down.
Prince of Charms knows he can only know
but one cycle of neap- and ebb- , then go
away with all his garnered memories
of the vastness that comes, and stays, or flees.
For Charming's life-cycle is so finite,
and will end, try as any Prince with will might.
New Life-cycle begun, old ended, "Life! : AWAY!
Prince of Charms, you cannot stay!"
And subsequent Princes of Charms shall come,
and other life (not MINE, too soon gone!),
will take consequent stands, thru ebb- and neap-,
and too, make promises, and promises keep.
The Prince of Charms so quietly stands,
while Life is erased, having been written in sands.
Sometimes I think that had your life taken a slightly different bent, you would have written volumes recited in old hallowed halls. I've felt this way many times and wondered had any other.
Jessica