Muriel Rukeyser




Beast in View

Configurations of time and singing
         Bring me to a dark harbor where 
         The chase is drawn to a beginning.
         And all the myths are gathered there.

I know the trees as fountains and the stars’
         Far fire fountains and your love
         A vivid fountain, and the bars
         Broken about me let me move

Among the fountains.    At last seeing
         I came here by obscure preparing,
         In vigils and encounters being
         Both running hunter and fierce prey waring.

I hunted and became the followed,
         Through many lives fleeing the last me,
         And changing fought down a far road
         Through time to myself as I will be.

Chaos prepared me, and I find the track,
         Through life and darkness seek my myth—
         Move toward it, hunting grow more like,
         Draw near, and know it through our path.
         Know only that we run one path.