THE WORLD OFFENDED

I said unto the world one day:

        «I suspect thee of existence!»

And the world showed a smiled resistance

        To what I did say.

«Let us go to court», he replied; «go we

Before a Court both wise and rare.

Let Reason one judge of our cause be;

Imagination be also there

And Feeling the judges our cause to hear.»

We went before the Court, and Reason

Said to me: «Thy crime is half‑treason!

The World's acquitted of what thou say'st:

        Of existence 'tis guilty not.

This by the written code of Thought

        In the pages of Unrest.»

(I was but in the costs condemned

Of the suit I lost as play;

But those, they leave me poor and yet

        Are more than I can pay.)