Alas! for the brave words that pass away,
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That soon must lose their purple and their gold,
Be on men's lips no more to sing or say,
In no man's book be writ, tale that is told,
Or poem decked, as a white hand with rings,
With such forgotten words as "queens" and "kings".
Soon to be gone like legendary birds,
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Flamingo-winged—O drab and desert sky!—
No more shall "lady", loveliest of words,
Answer to "lord": for these great words must die;
Nor "gentleman", that had so brave a sound,
In aught save mouldering lexicons be found.
Or "manners", or good words of like intent,
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"Gentleness", "reverence", and "humility"—
Yea! men shall ponder what such words once meant;
And even so staunch a word as "comrade" be
Turned from its loyal use, itself to lend
To every bloody and tyrannic end.
And "vine" and "vineyard" and the purple "grape",
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That in their mention sooth our mortal lot,
Shall be no merrier to the ear than crape,
And kindly Dionysus be forgot;
And even the "pipe" that brings the spirit peace
Seem antique and mysterious even as these.
Yea! all the words of glory and of cheer,
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To which the hearts of men were wont to dance,
Shall fall no more upon the purgèd ear;
Discrowned shall go the kingly word "romance",
And glad am I that I was born in time
Still to weave "love", not "lust", into my rhyme.