 | By Severn Sea and Other Poems |  |
34
TO J. C. S.
A BIRTHDAY ODE
Whilome I wrote a little song,
Not wise, I said, though all too long,
A little song great debt to pay,
How great nor short nor long could say.
Not wise, I said, though all too long,
A little song great debt to pay,
How great nor short nor long could say.
A stately gracious queen you seemed
When youth confirmed what boyhood dreamed;
Now youth to ampler manhood changed
O'er wider fields of life has ranged;
Some flowers he finds grown fruit, some yet
Flowering, and still the ancient debt
Exceeds the utmost of his store,
And you are worthier than before;
So little words ill-chosen and weak
The heart's deep voice once more must speak.
When youth confirmed what boyhood dreamed;
Now youth to ampler manhood changed
O'er wider fields of life has ranged;
Some flowers he finds grown fruit, some yet
Flowering, and still the ancient debt
Exceeds the utmost of his store,
And you are worthier than before;
So little words ill-chosen and weak
The heart's deep voice once more must speak.
Ah! can it be a lustre's flown
Since then we gathered at your throne?
How full the years, how fleet the tides,
How much is gone, how much abides,
What loss in gain, what gain in loss,
What siftings of the gold from dross,
What planting and what watering hours,
What increase from the holier powers,
What hopes grown memories, what fears,
What tender joys, what tenderer tears
Too sacred for a holiday,
Yet never from our hearts away,
While that sweet heaven-uplifted star
Smiles on her earthly home from far!
Since then we gathered at your throne?
How full the years, how fleet the tides,
How much is gone, how much abides,
35
What siftings of the gold from dross,
What planting and what watering hours,
What increase from the holier powers,
What hopes grown memories, what fears,
What tender joys, what tenderer tears
Too sacred for a holiday,
Yet never from our hearts away,
While that sweet heaven-uplifted star
Smiles on her earthly home from far!
So take, dear Lady of this day,
Once more the tribute of a lay
And gratitude how poorly drest,
With five years' added interest,
Nay, doubled now by that sweet tone
The over-echo of my own;
For listen, and you'll hear it come
A response o'er the seas of home
In sweet accord to all I say
From her that should be here to-day;
When all and each who call you friend
Or dearer names, your court attend
In act or heart, with blithest mien
And festal garb to greet their queen,
Whose crown is wisdom as of old
And courtesy her orb of gold,
Whose sceptre bright Ithuriel's lance,
Truth kindling truth where'er it glance.
Once more the tribute of a lay
And gratitude how poorly drest,
With five years' added interest,
Nay, doubled now by that sweet tone
The over-echo of my own;
For listen, and you'll hear it come
A response o'er the seas of home
In sweet accord to all I say
From her that should be here to-day;
When all and each who call you friend
Or dearer names, your court attend
In act or heart, with blithest mien
36
Whose crown is wisdom as of old
And courtesy her orb of gold,
Whose sceptre bright Ithuriel's lance,
Truth kindling truth where'er it glance.
Long may you reign, and long may we
Or young or old your lieges be!
And for your humble loyal bard,
If neither fate nor you be hard,
Thus much he hopes, thus much he prays,
Your royal laurel for his lays,
And that on some far birthday he
May see and share your Jubilee!
Or young or old your lieges be!
And for your humble loyal bard,
If neither fate nor you be hard,
Thus much he hopes, thus much he prays,
Your royal laurel for his lays,
And that on some far birthday he
May see and share your Jubilee!
Davos Platz,
26th August, 1889.
| By Severn Sea and Other Poems | |