Riding down the road at evening with the stars or steed and shoon
I have heard an old man singing underneath a copper moon;
"God, who gemmed with topaz twilights, opal portals of the day,
"On "our amaranthine mountains, why make human souls of clay?
"For I rode the moon-mare's horses in the glory of my youth,
"Wrestled with the hills at sunset— till I met brass-tinctured Truth.
"Till I saw the temples topple, till I saw the idols reel,
"Till my brain had turned to iron, and my heart had turned to steel.
"Satan, Satan, brother Satan, fill my soul with frozen fire;
"Feed with hearts of rose-white women ashes of my dead desire.
"For my road runs out in thistles and my dreams have turned to dust.
"And my pinions fade and falter to the raven wings of rust.
"Truth has smitten me with arrows and her hand is in my hair—
"Youth, she hides in yonder mountains — go and see her, if you dare!
"Work your magic, brother Satan, fill my brain with fiery spells.
"Satan, Satan, brother Satan, have known your fiercest Hells."
Riding down the road at evening when the wind was on the sea,
I have heard an old man singing, and he sang most drearily
Strange to hear, when dark lakes shimmer to the wailing of the loon,
Amethystine Homer singing under evening's copper moon.
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Interesting...I have not yet seen the movie, even though I own a copy. I bought it second-hand, from a bin, with the profound intention of watching it. I guess I just assumed that Nolte played Howard. I did wonder how aging Nolte could be young R.E. Howard!
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I don't remember if Nick Nolte was in the movie, but I know he didn't play Robert E. Howard, it was Vincent D'Onofrio, he's on Law and Order: Criminal Intent at the moment. Anyway not that relevant, just wanted to put it out there.
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thanks.
Blu -
Robert E. Howard was the author of the famous Conan stories. (Remember the movie, "Conan the Barbarian?" That is Howard's character.) He was widely published in the pulp magazines of the 1930's. Howard is most famous for his fantasy and adventure writing, but he was also a noteworthy poet.
Howard commited suicide at the age of 29, the day his mother died. It was a tragedy for American literature because Howard was a master story-teller whose fantasy roots pre-dated Tolkien.
Howard was a member of a group of young writers who corresponded with horror writer H.P. Lovecraft. Other members of this group included a young Robert Bloch (author of "Psycho") and August Derleth, founder of Arkham House Publishers.
A part of Howard's life story is told in the bittersweet movie, "The Whole Wide World." The movie starred (I believe) Nick Nolte and Renee Zellwiger. It can still be found in video stores...if you look hard enough.
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Most beautiful, I will have to find more by this poet
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very nice. i dont believe i know of him. if i do, its not coming to mind right now. but i like this one. very nice.
Blu -
Howard recognizes that one day he will be such an old man. He was a young man, writing about old age...and lamenting that one day will lose his youth. The poem's title, "Alwasy Comes Evening," illustrates his mixed feelings about old age. No matter how a young man spends his life, evening always comes. The fact that Howard ended his own youth by suicide in his 20's makes this poem especially poignant.
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Mr. Howard seems to know that the 40 days in the wilderness is forever. No resolution rises.
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I believe Mr. Howard is speaking of the natural beauty surrounding him, yet reveals it is tainted by the harsh realities of life. He appears to express the constant turmoil of wrestling with his conscience in a bitter sweet world of the real and the surreal.
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I love this poem... all i have to say is that i think underneath in the second line should be changed to 'neath. But besides that i think it was really incredible.
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