The Day Ended

The day ended, and the slow-wheeling magnificent
constellations
Glided like lights of ships down the river of space,
And Festus was disturbed once more, and wished
to speak,
And heavily raised his head at last in sorrow,
And turned toward the stars his face,
And said: “Look, Festus, how yet once more the
immortals
Kindle their delicate lanterns and walk in the sky
While you on a lonely hill sit alone in sadness
And remember that you must die!
Look at the stars, Festus, treader of kingdoms,
You who carried the world like a bird in a cage,
You whose heart is a desert, gaunt with winter,
You whose sword in youth was a sevenfold lightning
Now worn and green with agel
Look! the immortals once more in the sky of your
heart,
The immortals you scorned and forgot,
Walk in the dim blue gardens softly apart
To a music you taught them not! .. .”