I DO NOT SPEAK

I do not ask for mercy for understanding for peace

And in these heavy days I do not ask for release

I do not ask that suffering shall cease.

I do not pray to God to let me die

To give an ear attentive to my cry

To pause in his marching and not hurry by.

I do not ask for anything I do not speak

I do not question and I do not seek

I used to in the day when I was weak.

Now I am strong and lapped in sorrow

As in a coat of magic mail and borrow

From time today and care not for tomorrow.

THE FACE

There is a face I know too well,

A face I dread to see,

So vain it is, so eloquent

Of all futility.

It is a human face that hides

A monkey soul within,

That bangs about, that beats a gong

That makes a horrid din.

Sometimes the monkey soul will sprawl

Athwart the human eyes,

And peering forth, well flesh its pads,

And utter social lies.

So wretched is this face, so vain,

So empty and forlorn,

You well may say that better far

This face had not been born.

THE REASON

My life is vile

I hate it so

I'll wait a while

And then I'll go.

Why wait at all?

Hope springs alive,

Good may befall

I yet may thrive.

It is because I cant make up my mind

If God is good, impotent or unkind.

THE DOCTOR

You are not looking at all well, my dear,

In fact you are looking most awfully queer.

Do you find that the pain is more than you can bear?

Yes, I find that it is more than I can bear, so give me some bromide

And then I will go away for a long time and hide

Somewhere on the seashore where the tide

Coming upon me when I am asleep shall cover

Me, go over entirely,

Carry beyond recovery.

THE BLOOD FLOWS BACK

The blood flows back behind my eyes

For fears I cannot recognise.

I stood upon the brink

And heard the clink

And clatter of my own thoughts.

Fear drove them on, the cavern crew,

My soul was sick,

I knew it knew

For the first time

And saw

The thoughts that thronged its house

All fears and lies

All fears and craven subterfuge.

My soul was sick and wished to die.

Weeping its immortality

My soul stood there.

Ah me, ah me,

What use contempt and hate?

Myself is welded to a whole

And hidden thoughts must have their place

With will and soul.