The Question

How made they all this glorious earth?

I cannot answer this.

If you were cloud or bee or salmon then
Could you have answered this?

I could not answer this
If I were all the men of earth
One life unbroken, with one tongue,
And had my roots beneath the stars
Where older angels keep the guard
Of blue darkness
I could not answer this.

If you were wounded with a lance
Could you then answer this?

If I were roses or a lady’s kiss,
One of the very elements
I could not answer this.

Is there an one could answer this?

There is an he that died on hill
Upon a tree of perished figs
O he could answer this.