Page:An Anthology of Modern Bohemian Poetry.pdf/49

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MODERN BOHEMIAN POETRY
45

Princes, who in a conquering ruler's gold bearing earth,
Were lettered fast and by guards invisible compassed around.

When they think of their cities that over the lakes es have grown,
Of the stars in the mystical light of dusk of their native sky,
And in their captivity’s calm, of bells with a thousand-fold tone,
And of trusty multitudes, who at a crowning exultingly cry.

"The Hands" (1901).

THUS SANG THE WATERS

Betwixt two fires, the sun and the earth, 'neath a spell thro' the ages we wander,
From the thirsting roots of life to ethereal stems we have mounted,
To the splendour of flowers, that were clutched by the spasm of grievous desires,
Thro' currents of nummulite oceans, thro' gloom of diluvial forests,
Thro' kingdoms of bygone creation gigantic,
Thro' caverns, where man, the mystical brother of beasts, the releaser of earth of the future,