This Side Of The Truth

（for Llewelyn）

　　This side of the truth，

　　You may not see， my son，

　　King of your blue eyes

　　In the blinding country of youth，

　　That all is undone¹，

　　Under the unminding skies，

　　Of innocence² and guilt³

　　Before you move to make

　　One gesture of the heart or head，

　　Is gathered and spilt

　　Into the winding⁴ dark

　　Like the dust of the dead.

　　Good and bad， two ways

　　Of moving about your death

　　By the grinding sea，

　　King of your heart in the blind days，

　　Blow away like breath，

　　Go crying through you and me

　　And the souls of all men

　　Into the innocent

　　Dark， and the guilty dark， and good

　　Death， and bad death， and then

　　In the last element

　　Fly like the stars' blood

　　Like the sun's tears，

　　Like the moon's seed， rubbish

　　And fire， the flying rant⁵

　　Of the sky， king of your six years.

　　And the wicked wish，

　　Down the beginning of plants

　　And animals and birds，

　　Water and Light， the earth and sky，

　　Is cast before you move，

　　And all your deeds and words，

　　Each truth， each lie，

　　Die in unjudging love.