Wild Knight and Other Poems — A Fairy Tale

A FAIRY TALE

All things grew upwards, foul and fair: The great trees fought and beat the air With monstrous wings that would have flown;

But the old earth clung to her own, Holding them back from heavenly wars, Though every flower sprang at the stars.

But he broke free: while all things ceased, Some hour increasing, he increased.

The town beneath him seemed a map, Above the church he cocked his cap, Above the cross his feather flew Above the birds and still he grew.

The trees turned grass; the clouds were riven;

His feet were mountains lost in heaven;

Through strange new skies he rose alone, The earth fell from him like a stone, And his own limbs beneath him far Seemed tapering down to touch a star.

He reared his head, shaggy and grim, Staring among the cherubim;

The seven celestial floors he rent, One crystal dome still o'er him bent: Above his head, more clear than hope, All heaven was a microscope.

A PORTRAIT