Afterwards

by Clark Ashton Smith


	There is a silence in the world
	Since we have said farewell;
	And beauty with an alien speech
	An alien tale would tell.

	There is a silence in the world,
	Which is not peace nor quiet:
	Ever I seek to flee therefrom,
	And walk the ways of riot.

	But when I hear the music moan
	In rooms of thronging laughter,
	A tongueless demon drives me forth,
	And silence follows after.