POET: She insists that Death is a shining part of her unbroken circle.

TRUTH: Death, warder to the cloudy gate of Time, The portal of Eternity. The Sun is its watchman. The Stars are its sentinels. Its hinges are the slow-turning ages.

POET: The perfect portal to the path endless, Through which comes the Future. She is shod with the golden sandals of Delight And robed in garments of the morning skies ; Bearing on her strong right arm a baby, laughing.

TRUTH: Death, master of the gateway, opening the portal. Benevolent Death ; chaste ; just ; not to be feared.

POET: He holds a crystal cup, dripping rainbows.

TRUTH: But with your own hand you have pushed back the

rainbow cup. You have given Death a withered bough. Blighted before fruit.

POET: Death is the keeper of the Halls of Immortality. Whomsoever he leads into the Gardens of Memory Wanders not abroad any more.

TRUTH: Death, whose daughter is Memory, Keeper of the sacred silences Where no air from the world stirs. Nor is any change.

98