V. WHAT THE THUNDER SAID

After the torchlight red on sweaty faces

-1
After the frosty silence in the gardens0
After the agony in stony places1
The shouting and the crying2
Prison and palace and reverberation3
Of thunder of spring over distant mountains4
He who was living is now dead5
We who were living are now dying6
With a little patience

7

Here is no water but only rock

8
Rock and no water and the sandy road9
The road winding above among the mountains10
Which are mountains of rock without water11
If there were water we should stop and drink12
Amongst the rock one cannot stop or think13
Sweat is dry and feet are in the sand14
If there were only water amongst the rock15
Dead mountain mouth of carious teeth that cannot spit16
Here one can neither stand nor lie nor sit17
There is not even silence in the mountains18
But dry sterile thunder without rain19
There is not even solitude in the mountains20
But red sullen faces sneer and snarl21
From doors of mudcracked houses22
                                                         If there were water23
And no rock24
If there were rock25
And also water26
And water27
A spring28
A pool among the rock29
If there were the sound of water only30
Not the cicada31
And dry grass singing32
But sound of water over a rock33
Where the hermit-thrush sings in the pine trees34
Drip drop drip drop drop drop drop35
But there is no water

36

Who is the third who walks always beside you?

37
When I count, there are only you and I together38
But when I look ahead up the white road39
There is always another one walking beside you40
Gliding wrapt in a brown mantle, hooded41
I do not know whether a man or a woman42
- But who is that on the other side of you?

43

What is that sound high in the air

44
Murmur of maternal lamentation45
Who are those hooded hordes swarming46
Over endless plains, stumbling in cracked earth47
Ringed by the flat horizon only48
What is the city over the mountains49
Cracks and reforms and bursts in the violet air50
Falling towers51
Jerusalem Athens Alexandria52
Vienna London53
Unreal

54

A woman drew her long black hair out tight

55
And fiddled whisper music on those strings56
And bats with baby faces in the violet light57
Whistled, and beat their wings58
And crawled head downward down a blackened wall59
And upside down in air were towers60
Tolling reminiscent bells, that kept the hours61
And voices singing out of empty cisterns and exhausted wells.

62

In this decayed hole among the mountains

63
In the faint moonlight, the grass is singing64
Over the tumbled graves, about the chapel65
There is the empty chapel, only the wind's home.66
It has no windows, and the door swings,67
Dry bones can harm no one.68
Only a cock stood on the rooftree69
Co co rico co co rico70
In a flash of lightning. Then a damp gust71
Bringing rain

72

Ganga was sunken, and the limp leaves

73
Waited for rain, while the black clouds74
Gathered far distant, over Himavant.75
The jungle crouched, humped in silence.76
Then spoke the thunder77
DA78
Datta: what have we given?79
My friend, blood shaking my heart80
The awful daring of a moment's surrender81
Which an age of prudence can never retract82
By this, and this only, we have existed83
Which is not to be found in our obituaries84
Or in memories draped by the beneficent spider85
Or under seals broken by the lean solicitor86
In our empty rooms 87
DA88
Dayadhvam: I have heard the key89
Turn in the door once and turn once only90
We think of the key, each in his prison91
Thinking of the key, each confirms a prison92
Only at nightfall, aetherial rumours93
Revive for a moment a broken Coriolanus94
DA95
Damyata: The boat responded96
Gaily, to the hand expert with sail and oar97
The sea was calm, your heart would have responded98
Gaily, when invited, beating obedient99
To controlling hands

100

                                     I sat upon the shore

101
Fishing, with the arid plain behind me102
Shall I at least set my lands in order?103
London Bridge is falling down falling down falling down104
Poi s'ascose nel foco che gli affina105
Quando fiam ceu chelidon - O swallow swallow106
Le Prince d'Aquitaine a la tour abolie107
These fragments I have shored against my ruins108
Why then Ile fit you. Hieronymo's mad againe.109
Datta. Dayadhvam. Damyata.110
                           Shantih    shantih    shantih111

This version of the text was edited by Dennis G. Jerz, 2000.
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