Unanswering voice,
Sustainer,
Lady or Lord:
I have no choice
But to attend
Your silent word.
I think again
Of the first poet
Of my tongue:
Abandoning
The sweet, profane
Intoxication
Of plucked string
And exploit sung.
At your command
He sang creation.
He had withdrawn
To where
His silence was:
Where cattle stand
And, sleeping, moan,
Stamp, grumble, snort.
As in high places dawn
Will spring
Sudden from stone,
So from the dung
And bed-straw rose
His made thought.
Angel or Muse,
Because I do
Not hear your voice
Yet cannot choose
But speak, I pray
Let my words be
Such that they grow
From my silence
Answering you,
As they
Must answer me.