Near Helikon
July 6, 2023Loneliness
July 6, 2023Mt. Lykaion
Alone on Lykaion since man hath been
Stand on the height two columns, where at rest
Two eagles hewn of gold sit looking East
Forever; and the sun goes down between.
Far down the mountain’s oval green
An order keeps the falling stones abreast.
Below within the chaos last and least
A river like a curl of light is seen.
Beyond the river lies the even sea,
Beyond the sea another ghost of sky,–
O God, support the sickness of my eye
Lest the far space and long antiquity
Suck out my heart, and on this awful ground
The great wind kill my little shell with sound.
Trumbull Stickney
Trumbull Stickney (1874-1904) was an American poet and scholar who is known for his works that explore themes of love, beauty, and the natural world. He was a leading figure in the American literary world of the early 20th century and his works continue to be studied for their insights into the aesthetics of modernist poetry.