vision of java from the sea

Once I saw Java
mountainous unpeopled island
Java that was never mine
oh my Java

When no clouds flouted our meeting
when no boats flecked the sea
seethed and decked

historic worlds sang one to me
let them spring free
and the enormous rains of time
lilted willingly below me
below the rustling leaves and drying grieve!

Oh sink me into trees’
bitter trunks dust me
in old tongues
of the age when roads
were squirmed first by snakes and pounded flat
by slaves

shaking as they raised the stones,
and let them --- raised and let them –

(no one ran easily then
for thieves throve
and kings knew)

Let them fall.