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We are hollow men

We are just stuffed men.

Headpiece filled with straw. Alas!

Quiet & meaningless as wind in dry grass,

Rat's feet over the glass.

Those who have crossed

With direct eyes to death's kingdom

Not as lost violent souls

Eyes I dare not meet

In death's dream kingdom meet

In the twilight around.

Refrain:

I dare meet in dead land

The stone images are raised

Dead man's hand

And twinkle of fading star light

Just let me also wear

Such deliberate disguises

Rat's coat

Crossed staves – not final meeting.

Shape without form &

Shade without color,

Even Abstract Entities

Crawls between dry ribs

Metaphysics warm – saw the skull under skin.

"I am Lazarus I come from dead to tell you

overhelming question now."

Would it have been worth?

What I meant at all – and how should I begin?

Refrain:

This last of meeting places

We grope together now

Avoid speech

On this beach – of tumid real.

Sightless unless eyes reappear

As multifoliate rose

Of twilight

The hope only – For Thine is the Kingdom…

We are hollow men

We are just stuffed men

Headpiece filled with straw. Alas!

Quiet & meaningless

As wind in dry grass

Rat's feet over the glass.

Those who have crossed

With direct eyes to death's kingdom

Not as lost violent souls

Eyes I dare not meet

In death's dream kingdom meet

In the twilight around.

Refrain:

I dare meet in dead land

The stone images are raised

Dead man's hand

And twinkle of fading star light

Just let me also wear

Such deliberate disguises

Rat's coat

Crossed staves – not final meeting.