Where Is The Vigor That You Showed Poem by Emmanuel George Cefai

Where is the vigor that you showed
When you raced miles in minutes?
The profane crowds applauded then;
As was their want as day follows day.

Your legs are wrinkled like creased apples
And when you stand and walk
There is a long, long trembling.

You could throw spears like Ajax did
Or other heroes dwelling under Jove
When he and his God-clan sate high above:
Heaven and earth trembled at their thunder-bolts.

No longer now high chants arise amidst
The holy smoke in temples of the night:
Jove has withdrawn it seems to higher zones:
The grass now grows abundant-wild alone
Amidst remaining pillars wind-frost-gnawed:
And human feet have rarely trod to hence:
Here the night comes shameless and the moon
Smiles languid and unseen: here and there
Glow-worms light the dark all light-house-like.
Or planets falling down Saint Anne’s Way
Like heaven’s sperm-cloud heaven’s azure bedeck.