 | The Poems of A. C. Benson |  |
225
NEW YEAR'S DAY
(January ist, 1893)
At the dawn of the year in my chamber as I lay,
Wondering I opened my unheeding eyes;
I could see the shining river, and the road that wound away,
And the plain, and the sea, and the skies.
Wondering I opened my unheeding eyes;
I could see the shining river, and the road that wound away,
And the plain, and the sea, and the skies.
There was no smoke from the little sleeping town;
Keen, chilly keen was the half-lit air;
On the casement-ivy fell the shadow of the down,
And the dawn came in unaware.
Keen, chilly keen was the half-lit air;
On the casement-ivy fell the shadow of the down,
And the dawn came in unaware.
Suddenly, how suddenly, across the golden cloud,
Out of the heart of the mysterious sea,
With her shadowy sails full set, with phantom hull and shroud,
Came a ship that was meant for me.
Out of the heart of the mysterious sea,
With her shadowy sails full set, with phantom hull and shroud,
Came a ship that was meant for me.
Flying out of shadow, into shadow passed away;
Though I scanned the heaving flats, she was borne from out my ken;
Had she cut the far-off waters through alternate night and day
Was she freighted by man for men?
Though I scanned the heaving flats, she was borne from out my ken;
Had she cut the far-off waters through alternate night and day
Was she freighted by man for men?
226
Ship, phantom ship, from the islands of the air,
Do you bear me a gift in your dark and crowded hold?
Is it love, is it honour, is it death that you bear
Out of the ages old?
Do you bear me a gift in your dark and crowded hold?
Is it love, is it honour, is it death that you bear
Out of the ages old?
With honour, glowing honour, I would fain be crowned;
And with love, warm love, I should most be blest;
But how softly, ah! how softly, death would wrap me round;
I know not which would be best.
And with love, warm love, I should most be blest;
But how softly, ah! how softly, death would wrap me round;
I know not which would be best.
And the winds of the night said “Hush,” and sighed away
Over the craggy shoulder of the hill;
And my heart said “Yea,” but my spirit answered “Nay,”
And the dawn said “which I will.”
Over the craggy shoulder of the hill;
And my heart said “Yea,” but my spirit answered “Nay,”
And the dawn said “which I will.”
As I wondered, as I gazed, with a rush of gorgeous fire
Over the sea's rim leapt the sudden sun;
And I veiled my eyes in pain, and forgot my dim desire
For the year was indeed begun.
Over the sea's rim leapt the sudden sun;
And I veiled my eyes in pain, and forgot my dim desire
For the year was indeed begun.
| The Poems of A. C. Benson | |