Ezra Pound - SONNET

 


If on the tally-board of wasted days

They daily write me for proud idleness,

Let high Hell summons me, and I confess,

No overt act the preferred charge allays.

To-day I thought — what boots it what I thought?

Poppies and gold! Why should I blurt it out?

Or hawk the magic of her name about

Deaf doors and dungeons where no truth is bought?

Who calls me idle? I have thought of her.

Who calls me idle? By God’s truth I’ve seen

The arrowy sunlight in her golden snares.

Let him among you all stand summonser

Who hath done better things! Let whoso hath been

With worthier works concerned, display his wares!