Sonnet for Music

I was stronger than you are, but living
is cruel, and loving is crueler, he said;
I was swifter and fiercer, but sinning
sears, and thought saps; his white head
was bowed; I was swifter in running,
more violent in loving; I had spread
more laughter than you gave or are giving,
he whispered; and when he turned, his eyes were red.

Thoughts ran like tremors in my mind,
I was wise, but wisdom goes; I was mad,
but sanity comes; when I looked, I did not find;
when I saw, I did not see; when I laughed, I was not glad;
fanaticism shone in his eyes; he bowed his head;
he was an old white man, but his eyes were red.