I am a pale passionate Pilgrim evoked from the dust and the dark.
In my brain are the molten ivories of the dawn, in my heart the brooding desire for thee.
Whispers of the purple hours to come, whispers of the white eternities past,
Draw me hither and thither and nowhither.
Ah me! shall I rest here a while on the chubby round earth or travel back to the ivoried eternities?
Stand I thus at pause,
I, a pale passionate Pilgrim evoked from the dust and the dark.
Publication History
- The Shadow-Eater [1915/17 and 1923]
- “Selections from New Books,” The Poetry Journal, Nov. 1915, Vol. IV No. 3, p. 101
- Tag: Benjamin De Casseres
From The Shadow-Eater (Boni)
1923 Edition Text Changes
- [New stanzas at “Whispers of the purple…”; “Ah, me!…”; and “Stand I thus…”]
- pale passionate > pale, passionate [first instance only]
- round earth or travel > round earth ⁋ Or travel
