IN HER PRISON.
Watcher with the cruel watching of the stars,
Barred by the powers of darkness with their bars:
Barred by the powers of darkness with their bars:
Oh! those that see me see as far as space,
And these that hold me circle every place.
And these that hold me circle every place.
My feet are tangled in the chains of Time,
My hands cannot take hold on air and climb.
My hands cannot take hold on air and climb.
And I am dumb—because the heavens are high,
And who can hope to scale them with a cry?
And who can hope to scale them with a cry?
The floor is grey with mould on which I tread,
Dust gathers in the silence overhead.
Dust gathers in the silence overhead.
With bitter bread and water hardly sweet
My jailer mocks me, saying: "Drink and eat."
My jailer mocks me, saying: "Drink and eat."
Yet somewhere there are carpets soft and rare,
And lights and laughter in the world—somewhere?
And lights and laughter in the world—somewhere?
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