The Ancient Track

There was no hand to hold me back That night I found the ancient track Over the hill and strained to see The fields that teased my memory. This tree that wall - I knew them well, And all the roofs and orchards fell Familiarly upon my mind As from a past not far behind. I knew what shadows would be cast As the late moon came up at last From back of Zaman's Hill, and how The vale would shine three hours from now. And when the path grew steep and high , And seemed to end against the sky, I had no fear of what might rest Beyond that silhouetted crest. Straight on I walked, while all the night Grew pale with phosphorescent light, And wall and farmhouse gable glowed Unearthly by the climbing road. There was the milestone that I knew -"Two miles to Dunwich" - now the view Of distant spire and roofs would dawn With ten more upward paces gone…

The was no hand to hold me back That night I found the ancient track, And reached the crest to see outspread A valley of the lost and dead; And over Zaman's Hill the horn Of a malignant moon was born, To light the weeds and vines that grew On ruined walls I never knew. The fox-fire glowed in field and bog And unknown waters spewed a fog Whose curling talons mocked the thought That I had ever known this spot. Too well I saw from the mad scene That my loved past had never been - Nor was I now upon the trail Descending to that long dead vale. Around was fog - ahead, the spray Of star-streams in the Milky Way... There was no hand to hold me back That night I found the ancient track. H.P. Lovecraft