Homecoming

A Theme and Variations

1. Mid-Winter

The year goes out in wrath. And through the winter

Are scattered little days like cottages.

And lampless, hourless nights; and grey mornings,

Their indistinguishable images.

Summertime, autumn – time and season passing,

And brown death has seized on every fruit.

And new cold stars appear now in the darkness,

Unseen before, even from the ship’s roof.

Pathless is every life. And every path

Bewildered. The end unknown. And whoso seeks

And finds a path finds that his utterance breaks

Off in sight of it, empty the hands he shakes.

2. A Winter Evening

When snow falls on pane and sill,

Long peals are borne on evening air;

The board is laid for many there

In a house provided well.

On their wanderings, several others

Come to the gate by dark ways.

Gold blossoms the tree of grace

Where cool sap in the earth gathers.

The wanderer quietly steps across

A threshold pain has turned to stone.

On the board glow bread and wine

In all the radiance of loss.

3. A Threshold