Ezra Pound - Sandalphon lyrics

The angel of prayer according to the Talmud stands unmoved among the angels of wind and fire, who die as their one song is finished, also as he gathers the prayers they turn to flowers in his hands. And these about me die, Because the pain of the infinite singing Slayeth them. Ye that have sung of the pain of the earth-horde's age-long crusading, Ye know somewhat the strain, the sad-sweet wonder-pain of such singing. And therefore ye know after what fashion This singing hath power destroying. Yea, these about me, bearing such song in homage Unto the Mover of Circles, Die for the might of their praising, And the autumn of their marcescent wings Maketh ever new loam for my forest; And these grey ash trees hold within them All the secrets of whatso things They dreamed before their praises, And in this grove my flowers, Fruit of prayerful powers, Have first their thought of life And then their being. Ye marvel that I die not! forsitan! Thinking me kin with such as may not weep, Thinking me part of them that die for praising —yea, tho' it be praising, past the power of man's mortality to dream or name its phases, —yea, tho' it chant and paean past the might of earth-dwelt soul to think on, —yea, tho' it be praising as these the winged ones die of. Ye think me one insensate else die I also Sith these about me die, And if I, watching Ever the multiplex j**el, of beryl and jasper and sapphire Make of these prayers of earth ever new flowers; Marvel and wonder! Marvel and wonder even as I, Giving to prayer new language And causing the works to speak Of the earth-horde's age-lasting longing, Even as I marvel and wonder, and know not, Yet keep my watch in the ash wood.