1. Youthful as stars in their beauty
Each a noble poet

2. Their sides aflame, stepping forth
As though a sharpened blade

3. They tried to turn me from great deeds
While without them the West is bleak

4. So strongly did I pursue them
The great with them seems small

5. In a gathering that rivals stars
As minds raced to describe it

6. Its entrance like a captive
Blocked by spears thrust in its midst

7. Speech from it was forced
Yet it would not speak

8. It looked at us from its pain
A sea of blood flowing beneath

9. Our footsteps upon it
Like ships with no guide

10. Lost, not knowing where to flow
Wearily drifting on its bank