Explore "The Wood God" by Madison Cawein on Textopian. Read with annotations and highlights.
/ I. What deity for dozing Laziness / Devised the lounging leafiness of this / Secluded nook? -- And how! -- did I distress / His musing ease that fled but now? or his / Communion with some forest-sister, fair / And shy as is the whippoorwill-flower there, / Did I disturb? -- Still is the wild moss warm / And fragrant with late pressure, -- as the palm / Of some hot Hamadryad, who, a-nap, / Props her hale cheek upon it, while her arm / Is wildflower-buried; in her hair the balm / Of a whole spring of blossoms and of sap. --
/ II. See, how the dented moss, that pads the hump / Of these distorted roots, elastic springs / From that god's late reclining! Lump by lump / Its points, impressed, rise in resilient rings, / As stars crowd, qualming through gray evening skies. -- / Invisible presence, still I feel thy eyes / Regarding me, bringing dim dreams before / My half-closed gaze, here where great, green-veined leaves / Reach, waving at me, their innumerable hands, / Stretched towards this water where the sycamore / Stands burly guard; where every ripple weaves / A ceaseless, wavy quivering as of bands.