Night Burial in the Forest

January 18,1917

Duncan Campbell Scott read this poem from his new book last night at the Arts and Letter Club Members Dinner. As he was reading I could not rid myself of a dark foreboding feeling.

I’ll write more on that tonight in my journal.

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NIGHT BURIAL IN THE FOREST

Lay him down where the fern is thick and fair.

Fain was he for life, here lies he low:

With the blood washed clean from his brow and his beautiful hair,

Lay him here in the dell where the orchids grow.

Let the birch-bark torches roar in the gloom,

And the trees crowd up in a quiet startled ring

So lone is the land that in this lonely room

Never before has breathed a human thing.

Cover him well in his canvas shroud, and the moss

Part and heap again on his quiet breast,

What recks he now of gain, or love, or loss

Who for love gained rest?

While she who caused it all hides her insolent eyes

Or braids her hair with the ribbons of lust and of lies,

And he who did the deed fares out like a hunted beast

To lurk where the musk-ox tramples the barren ground

Where the stroke of his coward heart is the only sound.

Haunting the tamarac shade,

Hear them up-thronging

Memories foredoomed

Of strife and of longing:

Haggard or bright

By the tamaracs and birches,

Where the red torch light

Trembles and searches,

The wilderness teems

With inscrutable eyes

Of ghosts that are dreams

Commingled with memories.

Leave him here in his secret ferny tomb,

Withdraw the little light from the ocean of gloom,

He who feared nought will fear aught never,

Left alone in the forest forever and ever.

Then, as we fare on our way to the shore

Sudden the torches cease to roar:

For cleaving the darkness remote and still

Comes a wind with a rushing, harp-like thrill,

The sound of wings hurled and furled and unfurled,

The wings of the Angel who gathers the souls from the wastes of the world.

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