Fluttering Things

I in youth it is the leaves trembling with delight water over round rocks and the agony of clocks the times before desire all the stars of heaven placed there just for me in the circle of my view under the shadowy rock there is no fear of death for I will live forever leaf and rock and treasure II then comes the greed to seek and find and hold scarce commodities of love and symbols cast in gold if I cannot possess a god then I will hold a goddess I build a fortress of fear stone on stone on bone until there comes a day gazing at a quivering sun I am blinded by oblivion dark waters steal the light III then the walls crumble and life is but despair death is quietly waiting as the devil takes a chair a beating heart is doubt love vanished like day and no amount of gold will take the fear away the challenge to endure is the ultimate test surrender to the elements the cosmos at its best IV now I tune my eyes beyond the far horizon where seabirds in frenzy follow the fishermen and then at last I know what always I was seeking to study the green waters to wait the flash of silver I'll not forget those stars I know that leaf and rock and gold and goddesses are finally put to rest