<html xmlns:tei="http://www.tei-c.org/ns/1.0"><body><h1 align="center" class="head">Vigil</h1><div class="stanza"><p class="line"><span class="smallcaps">At</span> night, when all the house is still,</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">Wide-waked the chairs and tables come</p><p class="line">And yawn and stretch their limbs until</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">The maids appear with pan and broom.</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">Through the dim hours they creak and groan,</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">Their laughter plays with tyrant Man,</p><p class="line">Shaken with stiff derision</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">For his pretensions and his span.</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">Where's then their willing servitude ?</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">Meek slaves for their creator's use.</p><p class="line">They make a mock of flesh and blood</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">That passes with a morning's dews.</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">The heart that once leaped in the tree</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">Yet lives in the fantastic shapes</p><p class="line">That foolish Man hath made to be --</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">But see how wide yon cupboard gapes!</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">With " Yours" and "Mine" they make great sport,</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">Who saw us come and see us go,</p><p class="line">And will be when no least report</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">Of us but what a stone can show.</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">When ghosts and owlets flit abroad,</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">The furniture's awake, aware,</p><p class="line">The floor complaining of its load,</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">And <em>what</em> a creaking of the stair!</p></div></body></html> · Great War