Chapter I: Kiyonobu Speaks

The actor on his little stage
Struts with a mimic rage.--
Across my page
My passion in his form shall tower from age to age.

What he so crudely dreams
In vague and fitful gleams,
The crowd esteems.--
Well! let the future judge, if his or mine this seems--

This calm Titanic mould
Stalking in colours bold
Fold upon fold--
This lord of dark, this dream I dreamed of old!