The Human Tree

Many have Earth's lovers been,Tried in seas and wars, I ween;Yet the mightiest have I seen:Yea, the best saw I.One that in a field aloneStood up stiller than a stoneLest a moth should fly.

Birds had nested in his hair,On his shoon were mosses rare,Insect empires flourished there,Worms in ancient wars;But his eyes burn like a glass,Hearing a great sea of grassRoar towards the stars.

From them to the human treeRose a cry continually:'Thou art still, our Father, weFain would have thee nod.Make the skies as blood below thee,Though thou slay us, we shall know thee.Answer us, O God!

'Show thine ancient fame and thunder,Split the stillness once asunder,Lest we whisper, lest we wonderArt thou there at all?'But I saw him there alone,Standing stiller than a stoneLest a moth should fall.