The crunbled alps, but shattered bones
of mountains once that were,
hold mystery beyond ken of man and shattered dreams,
that were-on dreaming-jeweled and golden.
Crowns of dignity and grace they were-now lost for'e'r to me and all the human race.
I trod the nameless mountain paths
myself nameless and alone.
Shadowed beasts then joined my march
and led me to their home.
On mountaintop an echoing plain
with columns stretched from rim to rim
beneath colossus' feet
in a highway cold and grim
Led forth to beasts' abode
to cocatrice's nest
to origin of all that men
have surrendered in the West.
I there beheld the rites
That that man and beast both knew
which spiralled to the heavens
when first the world was new
Celebrated in the dawn of earth
'fore sundered from each other
beast and man and earthly clime
called each other brother
The rites rose up into the sky
as the holiest of songs
containing mystery lost and knowledge
for which reprobrate man doth long.