The Dead Who Live

Up from the nether world in unending procession,
Like the lurid mists at the dawn-time,
Like the black wraiths that ascend from foul crypts,
Arise and ever arise my impulses.
Across the field of consciousness they stalk, an-hungered, lust-ravened, lean of their ghastly dreams— 
Thou devils of the gone-by!

Publication History

• The Shadow-Eater [1915/17 and 1923]
• “Poems of a Shadow Eater” (syndicated review with several poems included)
  • Text changes:
    • dawn-time > dawntime
    • ghastly dreams— ⁋ Thou devils > ghastly dreams—devils

1923 Edition Text Changes

• stalk, an-hungered > stalk, ⁋ An-hungered