Long before I drew a breath,
down to Death you bowed your head
as is deemed for mortal blood
faced before its ceaseless flood.
And I too shall welcome Death,
for to die all flesh was bred
long before I drew a breath;
down to Death you bowed your head.
And we two united are
by the holy Muses' joy—
verse no longer may be queen
of all arts seen or unseen,
scientists may claim each star
as their province and their toy,
and we two united are
by the holy Muses' joy.
Truly sings the Demon Light
winking deep within the dark
of the moon-encumbered night.
Truly sings the Demon Light
songs you sculpted in delight
at the wealth of words, yet hark!--
truly sings the Demon Light
winking deep within the dark.
Thus I sing the songs I sing
and I scribe the lines I scribe
since, among your troop I come,
numbered as one hardly dumb,
and your praises I let ring:
thus I joined your loyal tribe,
thus I sing the songs I sing
and I scribe the lines I scribe.
Of their worth I am not vain.
And, I know this true and terse,
limpid my lines may be, fair
to the ear, with naught of care,
yet resides an ounce of pain
since—because I know my verse—
of their worth I am not vain
and I know this true and terse.
Through the houses glides the scarred,
riven orb of silent light,
many hearts are stricken hard.
Through the houses glides the scarred
shut to Muses milliard
and, although 'gainst verse they fight,
through the houses glides the scarred,
riven orb of silent light.
Though the many shall not hear,
we, the few, embrace your voice,
and we shall forever praise
all the hours that made your days
with a voice of love and cheer.
To adore you is our choice
though the many shall not hear:
we--the few--embrace your voice.
Though all songs at some point fade,
voices shall sing each anew
till the last in silence falls--
in aeons may that day befall!
Though under earth your dust’s laid,
though your song's known by the few,
though all songs at some point fade,
voices shall sing each anew.
While the mighty Demon Star
shines upon your grieving earth,
may, through lands both close and far,
while the mighty Demon Star
gleams above us, may no blah
deafen none who seek your work
while the mighty Demon Star
shines upon your grieving earth.