The Poetical Works of George Barlow In Ten [Eleven] Volumes |
 | I. |
| II. |
| III. |
| IV. |
| V. |
| VI. |
| VII. |
| VIII. |
| IX. |
| X. |
 | XI. |
|
|
|
| I. |
| II. |
| III. |
| IV. |
| V. |
| VI. |
| VII. |
|
| X. |
| XI. |
| XII. |
| XIII. |
| XIV. |
| XV. |
| XVI. |
| XVII. |
|
PAST MANY YEARS
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 | The Poetical Works of George Barlow |  |
196
PAST MANY YEARS
Past many years I gaze towards one sweet face
And towards a wind-swept sea-kissed upland place
Where love was bright:
And round me still the far-off wonder flows
As the red sunset o'er the water throws
Its magic light.
And towards a wind-swept sea-kissed upland place
Where love was bright:
And round me still the far-off wonder flows
As the red sunset o'er the water throws
Its magic light.
Ah! sweet, was all the long strange road too long
And couldst thou find no solace in my song
Nor sense of rest?
Were the wild blossoms that earth's pilgrims seek
Poor by the flowers that nestle in thy cheek
And in thy breast?
And couldst thou find no solace in my song
Nor sense of rest?
Were the wild blossoms that earth's pilgrims seek
Poor by the flowers that nestle in thy cheek
And in thy breast?
197
And had the lonely unattractive way
No splendour greater than of gold sun-ray
Or silver moon?
Are there not stars and moons and suns within
The souls who struggle God's high goals to win,
For crown and boon?
No splendour greater than of gold sun-ray
Or silver moon?
Are there not stars and moons and suns within
The souls who struggle God's high goals to win,
For crown and boon?
Ah! weary lovely far-off woman-face
How far thou art from love's supreme embrace,
How far from mine!
Thou lingerest in the green vales far inland
And the grey sea's waves win from thy white hand
No loving sign.
How far thou art from love's supreme embrace,
How far from mine!
Thou lingerest in the green vales far inland
And the grey sea's waves win from thy white hand
No loving sign.
Between us lies a strange and bitter past.
Wilt thou traverse the rocky road at last
And win the beach?
Wilt thou discern that where the great seas roar
Delight unspoken dwells for evermore
And love's own speech?
Wilt thou traverse the rocky road at last
And win the beach?
Wilt thou discern that where the great seas roar
Delight unspoken dwells for evermore
And love's own speech?
198
Oh, in the future's stirring sacred name
Thy soul for parcel of her force we claim,—
We claim thy power.
Remember that the fairest roses shine
Where storm and sun and cloud and light combine
To brace each flower.
Thy soul for parcel of her force we claim,—
We claim thy power.
Remember that the fairest roses shine
Where storm and sun and cloud and light combine
To brace each flower.
Death lies between us; and a weary way.
But, by the loving lips of this salt spray
And by this place
And by all memories, if thine eyes I met,
It would be just as if no parting yet
Had dimmed love's face!
But, by the loving lips of this salt spray
And by this place
And by all memories, if thine eyes I met,
It would be just as if no parting yet
Had dimmed love's face!
June 10, 1881.
| The Poetical Works of George Barlow | |