A blind man walks without the gate, Wild-staring as an owl by day, Fumbling his flute betimes and late, Along the way.
He pipeth, weary wretch and worn, A roundel shrill and obsolete. The spectre of a dog forlorn Attends his feet.
For him the days go lustreless. Invisible life with beat and roar He heareth like a torrent press Around, before.
What strange chimeras haunt his head ? And on his mind’s bedarkened space, What characters unheard, unread, Doth fancy trace ?
Thus down Venetian leads of doom, Wan prisoners ensepulchred In palpable, undying gloom Have graven their word.
And yet perchance when life’s last spark
Death speeds unto eternal night, The tomb-bred soul, within the dark, Shall see the light.
Works originally in French
French poetry
Poems
fr:L’Aveugle (Gautier) hu:A vak (Théophile Gautier) ru:Слепой (Готье/Гумилёв)