 | I. |
| II. |
| III. |
| V. |
| VI. |
| XX. |
 | Complete works (1925-27) |  |
98
THE DREAM BY THE RIVER
Sweet river flowing south,
I take of thy lily leaves
To bind in snowy sheaves
Out of the dry noon's drouth.
Thy water slippeth sweet
Over my dipping feet,
Sweet from the warm touch of my lady's mouth
Over the quivering brink
Last noon she leant to drink
When winds were dry about the bitter south,
Seeming to blow, and sink, and grow, and sink,
Faint as the drenched dead petals lift and blink.
I take of thy lily leaves
To bind in snowy sheaves
Out of the dry noon's drouth.
Thy water slippeth sweet
Over my dipping feet,
Sweet from the warm touch of my lady's mouth
Over the quivering brink
Last noon she leant to drink
When winds were dry about the bitter south,
Seeming to blow, and sink, and grow, and sink,
Faint as the drenched dead petals lift and blink.
I dip my face and hair
All burnt and bare
Into the water where she leant to drink,—
I smile to think.
All burnt and bare
Into the water where she leant to drink,—
I smile to think.
Dipping feet and dripping hair,
Through the curls and over the feet
Slips and slides the water fleet
Down its channels sharp and rare.
Mine arms are soiled with a brown stain,
No stain of rust;
My limbs are thin with fever-pain,
My bare feet rough with dust.
Through the curls and over the feet
Slips and slides the water fleet
Down its channels sharp and rare.
Mine arms are soiled with a brown stain,
No stain of rust;
My limbs are thin with fever-pain,
My bare feet rough with dust.
I have come out to rest my heart and think
On the white water's brink.
Thin threads and webs of tortured gold
That these tender shallows fold,
Little reeds that curl and dip
As any ripple takes them,
Beams that break and shades that slip
When the sun awakes them,—
It was here I kissed her lip,
Kissed her brows up out of sleep.
On the white water's brink.
Thin threads and webs of tortured gold
That these tender shallows fold,
99
As any ripple takes them,
Beams that break and shades that slip
When the sun awakes them,—
It was here I kissed her lip,
Kissed her brows up out of sleep.
It was here I slew him,—
Before the great pain came on me;
Here my stroke went thro' him,
Straight and sharp that all might see
The red thin bloodthreads creep.
Then all my pleasures seem,
As these faint weeds in the set stream,
Drawn steady down a dream,—
Before the great pain came on me;
Here my stroke went thro' him,
Straight and sharp that all might see
The red thin bloodthreads creep.
Then all my pleasures seem,
As these faint weeds in the set stream,
Drawn steady down a dream,—
Full of murmurs and of lights,
Strange new sounds and sweet new sights;
And after many things
Came a sharp noise of wings,
A hiss of cloven air,
And clink of chainmail rings
And stir of battle there.
And then two faces side by side,
And one face very fair.
Strange new sounds and sweet new sights;
And after many things
Came a sharp noise of wings,
A hiss of cloven air,
And clink of chainmail rings
And stir of battle there.
And then two faces side by side,
And one face very fair.
Past and past the waters glide,
And I bathe my hands and hair.
Lo, my hands stain not the stream.
Did I not say this was a dream?
Face nor hands are hard and red,
And soft leaves drop all round my head,
And soft weeds round my dipping feet
Stir and change and gleam.
I rest! My rest is very sweet.
And I bathe my hands and hair.
Lo, my hands stain not the stream.
Did I not say this was a dream?
Face nor hands are hard and red,
And soft leaves drop all round my head,
And soft weeds round my dipping feet
Stir and change and gleam.
I rest! My rest is very sweet.
| Complete works (1925-27) | |