Ice Journey

I dreamed I saw them again last night,
passing like shadows on the burning ice
into the glare of the northern lights,

on urgent errands, by strange device
they went. Unstayed by any mortal hand,
passing like shadows on the burning ice—

what wanderers these, from what warm lands?
Warned against peril and hardship, and yet
they went unstayed by any mortal hand

driven by needs neither known nor met
on paths over which the wise shook their heads,
warned against peril and hardship. And yet

was it madness or true vision that led
these wanderers following silver tracks
on paths over which the wise shook their heads?

And though it may be they will never come back
I dreamed I saw them again last night
these wanderers following silver tracks
into the glare of the northern lights.