Psalm Concerning The Castle

Let me be at the place of the castle.

Let the castle be within me.

Let it rise foursquare from the moat's ring.

Let the moat's waters reflect green plumage of ducks, let  the shells of swimming turtles break the surface or be  seen through the rippling depths.

Let horsemen be stationed at the rim of it, and a dog,  always alert on the brink of sleep.

Let the space under the first storey be dark, let the water  lap the stone posts, and vivid green slime glimmer upon  them; let a boat be kept there.

Let the caryatids of the second storey be bears upheld on  beams that are dragons.

On the parapet of the central room, let there be four  archers, looking off to the four horizons.  Within, let  the prince be at home, let him sit in deep thought, at  peace, all the windows open to the loggias.

Let the young queen sit above, in the cool air, her child in  her arms; let her look with joy at the great circle, the  pilgrim shadows, the work of the sun and the play of  the wind.  Let her walk to and fro.  Let the columns uphold  the roof, let the storeys uphold the columns, let there  be dark space below the lowest floor, let the castle rise  foursquare out of the moat, let the moat be a ring and  the water deep, let the guardians guard it, let there be  wide lands around it, let that country where it stands be  within me, let me be where it is.