The Dark Star
THE DARK STAR

 “My darling Rue—my little Rue Carew––” 

D. Appleton & Company

 Copyright, 1917, by ROBERT W. CHAMBERS

 Copyright, 1916, 1917, by the International Magazine Company

Printed in the United States of America

 TO MY FRIEND EDGAR SISSON

TO MY FRIEND

 Dans c’métier-là, faut rien chercher à comprendre. 

rien chercher à comprendre.

René Benjamin

René Benjamin

vii

 Where are you going, Naïa? Through the still noon— Where are you going? To hear the thunder of the sea And the wind blowing!— To find a stormy moon to comfort me Across the dune! 

 Why are you weeping, Naïa? Through the still noon— Why are you weeping? Because I found no wind, no sea, No white surf leaping, Nor any flying moon to comfort me Upon the dune. 

 What did you see there, Naïa? In the still noon— What did you see there? Only the parched world drowsed in drought, And a fat bee, there, Prying and probing at a poppy’s mouth That drooped a-swoon. 

viii

What did you hear there, Naïa? In the still noon— What did you hear there? Only a kestrel’s lonely cry From the wood near there— A rustle in the wheat as I passed by— A cricket’s rune. 

 Who led you homeward, Naïa? Through the still noon— Who led you homeward? My soul within me sought the sea, Leading me foam-ward: But the lost moon’s ghost 
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