The Temporary The All

Change and chancefulness in my flowering youthtime,     Set me sun by sun near to one unchosen;     Wrought us fellow-like, and despite divergence,     Friends interlinked us.     "Cherish him can I while the true one forthcome -     Come the rich fulfiller of my prevision;     Life is roomy yet, and the odds unbounded."     So self-communed I.     Thwart my wistful way did a damsel saunter,     Fair, the while unformed to be all-eclipsing;     "Maiden meet," held I, "till arise my forefelt     Wonder of women."     Long a visioned hermitage deep desiring,     Tenements uncouth I was fain to house in;     "Let such lodging be for a breath-while," thought I,     "Soon a more seemly.     "Then, high handiwork will I make my life-deed,     Truth and Light outshow; but the ripe time pending,     Intermissive aim at the thing sufficeth."     Thus I . . . But lo, me!     Mistress, friend, place, aims to be bettered straightway,     Bettered not has Fate or my hand's achieving;     Sole the showance those of my onward earth-track -     Never transcended!