little gray messenger,

robed like painted death,

your robe is dust.

whom do you seek

among lilies and closed buds

at dusk?

among lilies and closed buds

at dusk,

whom do you seek,

little gray messenger,

robed in the awful panoply

of painted death?

r.w.c.

from the mystery of choice, by robert w. chambers. published, 1897, by d. appleton and company. copyright by robert w. chambers. by permission of robert w. chambers.

all-wise,

hast thou seen all there is to see with thy two eyes?

dost thou know all there is to know, and so,

omniscient,

darest thou still to say thy brother lies?

r.w.c.