puny

I, that have bared me to your quiver's fire,

Lifted my face into its puny rain,

Do wreathe you Impotent to Evoke Desire

These mortal bones against my body set,

For all the puny fever and frail sweat

Of human love,--renounce for these, I say,

The heroes of the present and the past

Were puny, vague, and nothingness to thee:

Thou didst a span grasp mighty to the last,

Bird-song, breeze-wail, chune er moan,

What puny t'ings dey 'll be,

Ef w'en I 's seemin' all erlone,

Rash ambition, brokenhanded;

Puny man and scentless rose

Tormenting Pan to double the dose.

"Kept is message for the ships,

"Puny ships, silly ships."

Far mid the lake his form to spy,

Darkening across each puny wave,

To which the moon her silver gave.