The Specter

Thereupon the ancient tree,
in silence and solemnity,
I saw a spirit's Doom visage
as he went on his pilgrimage.

As I beheld this specter grim,
I did at length inquire of him:
"Art thou man or art thou beast?
A frightful creature, sayeth least!

Good spirit dost thou know of life,
or only of thine ghostly strife?
Hast thou e'er known of glorious breath,
or dost thou knowest naught but death?

And when the angels come for me,
shalt I endure a fate like thee?
Art thou and entity alone--
do we have a fate like thine own?

I am but human, sir; do tell,
e'en if thy tidings can't bode well,
for I seek knowledge of what lies
beyond all the vacant skies."

And after silence, the Fell Shade sighed,
and with a ghostly voice replied:
"Thou wouldst die if I should tell
the secret truth of Heav'n and Hell,

for the knowledge is so great
of what lies beyond the gates!
Nay, poor mortal; death, it seems,
haunts the mind and human dreams!

Do not ask me, I beseech,
of things beyond all human reach.
Remain beneath this ancient tree--
or dost thou want a fate like me?"

And, hearing this, I was dismayed
that his answer be delayed.
"Shadow, shall I ever know?"
Did quoth the phantom, "Maybe so."

In seeing that I did despair,
the Spirit pointed and said, "There.
Down the mountains thou must go,
into the Valley of the Shadow

if thou seekest, if thou yearn
yet to all the secrets learn,
if thou yet doth still implore
of me what lies beyond The Door.

Only in that place shall ye
understand why I shan't be
the bearer of such knowledge yet;
Then thou shalt know the se-c-ret.

Farewell, my friend, I leaveth here,
for now my hour hath drawn near!"
He bid good-bye once more, then he
did tip his hat and leaveth me.

I thought to myself in despair:
"Poor wretch, he'll haunt the earth for e'er!"
At length I did say, "Very well.
I need not know of Heav'n of Hell."

And then the Angels' hands did lift me,
bearing me to Heaven swiftly,
and ne'er was knowledge lost nor gained
of why that ghostly man remained.

-D.B.