Romance
What and where am I and who?
I can never tell. Can you?
Can a sunset after rain
Or a moonlit wave explain,
Can a willow tell you why
Or a star? No more can I.
Follow me in any face
To some far and lovely place.
If you find me, be content.
Never ask me where I went
Seven moons ago nor when
I intend to come again.
Am I foolish? Am I wise?
Never ask me to advise.
Ask a hawk about his wings,
Ask a robin why he sings,
Ask a tree to be a city,
Ask of me to pause and pity.
Who is shiftier than I?
I can go without good-bye.
I can come without your leave,
Come to comfort when you grieve.
Ask of me to stay or go,
Will I once obey you? No !
I am nowhere, somewhere near.
I am no one, someone dear, I
am cruel, I am kind,
I am all there is to find . . .
What am I and where and who?
I am heaven. I am you.
From A Canticle of Pan and Other Poems (Alfred A. Knopf, 1920) by Witter Bynner. Copyright © 1920 Alfred A. Knopf. This poem is in the public domain.
Witter Bynner
Witter Bynner was born in Brooklyn, New York in 1881. He graduated from Harvard University in 1902. After college, he worked as a newspaper reporter and, later, as the assistant editor of McClure’s magazine.
Bynner published his first poetry collection, An Ode to Harvard (Small, Maynard, & Co.), in 1907. He was also the author of New Poems (Alfred A. Knopf, 1960); Take Away the Darkness (Alfred A. Knopf, 1947); The Beloved Stranger (Alfred A. Knopf, 1919); Tiger (M. Kennerley, 1913); and several other poetry collections.