 | Poems by William W. Story |  |
232
COUPLETS.
[I. To each his separate work; the ox to drag the plough]
To each his separate work; the ox to drag the plough,
The bird to sing his song upon the blossomy bough.
The bird to sing his song upon the blossomy bough.
I do not ask the grain and hay your acres yield,
If I may pluck the flower you trample in your field.
If I may pluck the flower you trample in your field.
How perfect nature is! the sun, and cloud, and rain
Give me a little song, and ripen all your grain.
Give me a little song, and ripen all your grain.
[III. Strive not to say the whole! the Poet, in his Art]
Strive not to say the whole! the Poet, in his Art,
Must intimate the whole, and say the smallest part.
Must intimate the whole, and say the smallest part.
The young moon's silver arc her perfect circle tells,
The limitless within Art's bounded outline dwells.
The limitless within Art's bounded outline dwells.
Of every noble work the silent part is best,
Of all expression, that which cannot be expressed.
Of all expression, that which cannot be expressed.
Each act contains the Life, each work of Art the world,
And all the planet laws are in each dew-drop pearled.
And all the planet laws are in each dew-drop pearled.
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Of single stones is built the temple's Grecian state,
Yet should the poet not its stones enumerate.
Yet should the poet not its stones enumerate.
The lizard gliding o'er the Pyramid's huge cone,
Knows not the Pyramids, but only every stone.
Knows not the Pyramids, but only every stone.
Subservient to the form all details must be brought,
All images be slaves to one despotic thought.
All images be slaves to one despotic thought.
[IV. We of our age are part, and every thrill that wakes]
We of our age are part, and every thrill that wakes
The tremulous air of Life, its motion in us makes.
The tremulous air of Life, its motion in us makes.
The imitative mass mere empty echo give,
As walls and rocks return the sound that they receive.
As walls and rocks return the sound that they receive.
But as the bell that high in some cathedral swings,
Stirred by whatever thrill with its own music rings,
Stirred by whatever thrill with its own music rings,
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So finer souls give forth to each vibrating tone
Impinging on their life—a music of their own.
Impinging on their life—a music of their own.
[V. All Arts are one, howe'er distributed they stand]
All Arts are one, howe'er distributed they stand,Verse, tone, shape, color, form, are fingers on one hand.
[VI. Lift thou thyself above the accidents of life]
Lift thou thyself above the accidents of life,
With pain and joy alike be friends, abjuring strife.
With pain and joy alike be friends, abjuring strife.
If in thy growing fields the tempest beat thy grain,
See! it hath blown disease from off the stagnant plain.
See! it hath blown disease from off the stagnant plain.
If Friendship seize the sword, bare thou thy breast and wait,
Love conquers Love, but Hate hath never conquered Hate.
Love conquers Love, but Hate hath never conquered Hate.
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Patient the wounded earth receives the plough's sharp share,
And hastes the sweet return of golden grain to bear.
And hastes the sweet return of golden grain to bear.
The sea remembers not the vessel's rending keel,
But rushes joyously the ravage to conceal.
But rushes joyously the ravage to conceal.
So, patient under scorn and injury abide,—
Who conquereth all within may dare the world outside.
Who conquereth all within may dare the world outside.
[VII. Why fear the critic's pen; if dipped in gall it be]
Why fear the critic's pen; if dipped in gall it be
It but corrodes itself, it cannot injure thee.
It but corrodes itself, it cannot injure thee.
Sound speech, howe'er severe, deem thou the surgeon's knife
That cuts the cancer out and thereby saves the life.
That cuts the cancer out and thereby saves the life.
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Yet, let the surgeon heed, the flesh he takes oft lies
So near the patient's heart, that taken thence, he dies.
So near the patient's heart, that taken thence, he dies.
[VIII. The old because 'tis old the fool will reverence]
The old because 'tis old the fool will reverence—
The new because 'tis new, to him is void of sense.
The new because 'tis new, to him is void of sense.
Leave him with feeble bow his pointless jeer to shoot;
The wise would understand before they would refute.
The wise would understand before they would refute.
When sliding down its rails the engine thunders, mark!
From every farm-house runs some foolish cur to bark.
From every farm-house runs some foolish cur to bark.
[IX. Yes, thrift is very good. Respect to men of thrift]
Yes, thrift is very good. Respect to men of thrift!
They stick to solid facts, and let the dreamer drift.
They stick to solid facts, and let the dreamer drift.
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The earth their mother is, their heart unto her clings,
And since they live with her why should they covet wings?
And since they live with her why should they covet wings?
They find in common life a present task to do,
The distant and the dim let idle poets woo.
The distant and the dim let idle poets woo.
Yet out of earth alone was no man ever made?
The imagination gives the very soul to Trade.
The imagination gives the very soul to Trade.
The merchant schemes and dreams, with magic numbers plays,
On speculation's wings he threads through fortune's maze.
On speculation's wings he threads through fortune's maze.
Across the pathless deep his ships like shuttles fly,
And weave together lands by needs and luxury.
And weave together lands by needs and luxury.
With astrologic faith he on the stars relies,
And ventures all his wealth to shifting winds and skies.
And ventures all his wealth to shifting winds and skies.
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He trusts a needle's point, a few weak planks and chart,
To bring an Eastern spice into a Western mart.
To bring an Eastern spice into a Western mart.
What Faith in things unseen! Hath any poet's dreams
More fancy than your plain and sober merchant's schemes?
More fancy than your plain and sober merchant's schemes?
[X. Live not without a friend! The Alpine rock must own]
Live not without a friend! The Alpine rock must own
Its mossy grace or else be nothing but a stone.
Its mossy grace or else be nothing but a stone.
Live not without a God! however low or high,
In every house should be a window to the sky.
In every house should be a window to the sky.
[XI. Herein the spirit's gifts are not like those of clay]
Herein the spirit's gifts are not like those of clay—
The spirit does not lose by what it gives away.
The spirit does not lose by what it gives away.
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So at the candle's flame if we another light,
The first hath nothing lost of beautiful or bright.
The first hath nothing lost of beautiful or bright.
The lamp of human love like to the candle burns,
Its life is but to give, it seeketh no returns.
Its life is but to give, it seeketh no returns.
[XII. As rooted to the rock the yearning sea-weed grows]
As rooted to the rock the yearning sea-weed grows
And sways unto the tide, and feels its ebbs and flows;
And sways unto the tide, and feels its ebbs and flows;
So unto Reason fixed, yet floating ever free
In Feeling's ebb and flow the Artist's life should be.
In Feeling's ebb and flow the Artist's life should be.
[XIII. How use and custom steal from fairest things their grace]
How use and custom steal from fairest things their grace,
And how privation makes us feel the vacant place.
And how privation makes us feel the vacant place.
The open sky I breathed seemed not so sweet and pure
Till I was doomed this damp, foul dungeon to endure.
Till I was doomed this damp, foul dungeon to endure.
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I never knew, dear friend, your love's necessity,
But by Death's chasm left where once you used to be.
But by Death's chasm left where once you used to be.
[XIV. While we are young our youth too near for Art doth lie]
While we are young our youth too near for Art doth lie—
Our life a poem is, but for another's eye.
Our life a poem is, but for another's eye.
Youth by projection knows how glorious manhood is,
And manhood feels youth's charm by golden memories.
And manhood feels youth's charm by golden memories.
Not in the present we the present charm can feel,
But Memory and Hope have Beauty's wondrous seal.
But Memory and Hope have Beauty's wondrous seal.
Time smelts the dross away and leaves the ore alone,
And in a magic ring it sets life's opal stone.
And in a magic ring it sets life's opal stone.
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[XV. In every leaf is seen the structure of the tree]
In every leaf is seen the structure of the tree—
In every drop, the earth—in man, society.
In every drop, the earth—in man, society.
Nought universal ere was spoken, thought, or done,
That was not owed unto the private truth of one.
That was not owed unto the private truth of one.
All nature is akin—all parts of one vast mind,
And universals we in individuals find.
And universals we in individuals find.
[XVI. The scholar like a ship is filled with foreign store]
The scholar like a ship is filled with foreign store,
Yet oft his life and thought are barnacled with lore.
Yet oft his life and thought are barnacled with lore.
Sometimes rich fruit and wine he brings from lands unknown—
And sometimes he returns all ballasted with stone.
And sometimes he returns all ballasted with stone.
Nought in his mind or heart should dead and foreign dwell—
But change into himself like pearls within their shell.
But change into himself like pearls within their shell.
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Let him assimilate his knowledge as his food,
This, unto feeling, thought; as that, to flesh and blood.
This, unto feeling, thought; as that, to flesh and blood.
[XVII. What strange and magic power in sympathy resides?]
What strange and magic power in sympathy resides?
It doubles all our joys, our sorrows it divides.
It doubles all our joys, our sorrows it divides.
How sweet, dear friend, to feel that I with thee may share
Whatever life may bring of thought, or hope, or care.
Whatever life may bring of thought, or hope, or care.
Yet in his inmost self must each one stand alone,
Be, think, decide, act, die,—a single separate one.
Be, think, decide, act, die,—a single separate one.
[XVIII. Pain of the devil is, with God is joy alone]
Pain of the devil is, with God is joy alone,
And love's delicious fruit hath not sin's bitter stone.
And love's delicious fruit hath not sin's bitter stone.
Joy is life's natural flow, when feelings meet no shock,
And Sin the eddying whirl around some hidden rock.
And Sin the eddying whirl around some hidden rock.
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When in the glow of love, the loved one at thy side,
How broad thy being is—thy sympathy how wide.
How broad thy being is—thy sympathy how wide.
Thy love illumes the world; the beggar in thy way
Gets silver now who got but curses yesterday.
Gets silver now who got but curses yesterday.
[XIX. That dress of thine is made of many lives; I see]
That dress of thine is made of many lives; I see
Upon thy coral there the diver's misery.
Upon thy coral there the diver's misery.
Thy shawl is red with blood, for that the camel bled;
The seamstress sewed her pain into thy lace's thread.
The seamstress sewed her pain into thy lace's thread.
The tortured worm gave up his tomb thy silk to make,
The oyster bore his pearl of trouble for thy sake.
The oyster bore his pearl of trouble for thy sake.
The frolic kid was flayed thy snowy hands to hide,
A thousand cochineals to paint thy ribbon died.
A thousand cochineals to paint thy ribbon died.
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Thou wouldst not crush a worm, so gentle is thy heart,
And yet, behold! how strange a paradox thou art.
And yet, behold! how strange a paradox thou art.
[XX. The conscious Intellect the servant is of Art]
The conscious Intellect the servant is of Art,
The unconscious Phantasy performs the master's part.
The unconscious Phantasy performs the master's part.
Despite the helm and sail the vessel will not go
Howe'er we strive, until the breath of heaven shall blow.
Howe'er we strive, until the breath of heaven shall blow.
Love is the only key of knowledge as of Art,
Nothing is truly ours but what we learn by heart.
Nothing is truly ours but what we learn by heart.
[XXI. Like to the human frame, or like the spreading tree]
Like to the human frame, or like the spreading tree,
So History grows and has its live anatomy.
So History grows and has its live anatomy.
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From age to age it grows, here lopped, and stunted there,
And strives its perfect form of Liberty to wear.
And strives its perfect form of Liberty to wear.
Ah! what a wondrous voice of sorrow from it grieves,
As in the air of Time it shakes its myriad leaves.
As in the air of Time it shakes its myriad leaves.
There sits the carrion crow of Hate, and croaks for Death,
While Love's white dove lies torn and bleeding underneath.
While Love's white dove lies torn and bleeding underneath.
Shall that day never come when all its limbs shall shoot
In peaceful freedom forth to blossom, leaf and fruit.
In peaceful freedom forth to blossom, leaf and fruit.
When lifting perfect up its form unto the skies,
The winds amid its boughs shall weave their melodies.
The winds amid its boughs shall weave their melodies.
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[XXII. I look into thine eyes, myself, dear love, to see]
I look into thine eyes, myself, dear love, to see,For all I am, and hope, is given unto thee.
[XXIII. Seek not to pour the world into thy little mould]
Seek not to pour the world into thy little mould,
Each as its nature is, its being must unfold.
Each as its nature is, its being must unfold.
Enjoy the good, nor seek too much to criticize,
Within the slag of vice the gold of virtue lies.
Within the slag of vice the gold of virtue lies.
Vice is not wholly vice, but virtue in the growth,
And falsehood but the germ of undeveloped truth.
And falsehood but the germ of undeveloped truth.
Thy virtue is thine own; in others it may be
The meanest vice that man can have—Hypocrisy.
The meanest vice that man can have—Hypocrisy.
Thou art but as a string in life's vast sounding-board,
And other strings as sweet will not with thine accord.
And other strings as sweet will not with thine accord.
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[XXIV. An inward faith alone can make our life sincere]
An inward faith alone can make our life sincere,
And into Art that life transmuted should appear.
And into Art that life transmuted should appear.
Not of a trick or lie those fairest shapes are born,
That seem like human souls that godlike forms have worn.
That seem like human souls that godlike forms have worn.
The Greek in nature saw his gods half-hidden lurk,
And copying nature, wrought his gods into his work.
And copying nature, wrought his gods into his work.
[XXV. Nature in circles moves round fixed and central laws]
Nature in circles moves round fixed and central laws,
The spirit's spiral path a moving centre draws.
The spirit's spiral path a moving centre draws.
The seed results the tree, the tree results the seed,
Its ultimated fruit but to its root doth lead.
Its ultimated fruit but to its root doth lead.
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But thought strives ever up, beyond itself aspires,
New forms and higher powers are born of its desires.
New forms and higher powers are born of its desires.
Rest absolute is death; rest relative alone
To Nature must belong; the soul must on and on.
To Nature must belong; the soul must on and on.
What askest thou of Death, but that the senses' door
It shall unlock and let the spirit upward soar?
It shall unlock and let the spirit upward soar?
Soar on and up, its God projecting as it goes,
Expanding into love, and joy, and peace—but not repose.
Expanding into love, and joy, and peace—but not repose.
In utter rest the soul could never fitly dwell,
Debarred from upward growth—e'en Paradise were hell.
Debarred from upward growth—e'en Paradise were hell.
[XXVI. While work is only task we are apprentices]
While work is only task we are apprentices;
The master does his work with joyfulness and ease.
The master does his work with joyfulness and ease.
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His labor is his joy, and not the prize it brings,
And Nature, while he works, to him her secret sings.
And Nature, while he works, to him her secret sings.
[XXVII. Joy is the tone that sounds through nature's myriad vents]
Joy is the tone that sounds through nature's myriad vents,
But Hate is man's alone, and man alone repents.
But Hate is man's alone, and man alone repents.
Yet life hath nobler shapes than sorrows to beget,
God gives us time to live, act, love, but not regret.
God gives us time to live, act, love, but not regret.
For blighted fruit once borne the fruit-tree does not care,
Nor gratulate itself on what was sound and fair.
Nor gratulate itself on what was sound and fair.
So let us joyous live—to-day to be and do,
Nor care if good or bad once on our branches grew.
Nor care if good or bad once on our branches grew.
There is no ruined life beyond the smile of heaven,
And compensating grace for every loss is given.
And compensating grace for every loss is given.
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The Coliseum's shell is loved of flower and vine,
And through its shattered rents the peaceful planets shine.
And through its shattered rents the peaceful planets shine.
[XXVIII. Nature allows not man his brother to exclude]
Nature allows not man his brother to exclude,
She spreads her feast alike for fool, wise, bad and good.
She spreads her feast alike for fool, wise, bad and good.
Each what he can may take, so much and nothing more—
Yet nothing that each takes diminishes her store.
Yet nothing that each takes diminishes her store.
Thy walls and gates may shut my feet from thy estate,
Yet Fancy where she will treads scorning wall and gate.
Yet Fancy where she will treads scorning wall and gate.
The acres of dead loam—the wood within the trees,
Thou cravest these alone, so hast thou only these.
Thou cravest these alone, so hast thou only these.
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The poet poor, despised, who loiters dreaming by,
Transmutes this dross to gold with wondrous alchemy.
Transmutes this dross to gold with wondrous alchemy.
He owns the landscape there—the fine ethereal part;
For him the bird sings while he listens with his heart.
For him the bird sings while he listens with his heart.
For him the sunset paints—for him the free winds blow;
He takes the spirit there and lets the dead corpse go.
He takes the spirit there and lets the dead corpse go.
Thy wealth sticks to the earth, a load thou canst not raise—
His, light as thought and safe from death, he bears always.
His, light as thought and safe from death, he bears always.
[XXIX. We are but what we think, and must immortal be]
We are but what we think, and must immortal be,
Else whence hath come the thought of immortality?
Else whence hath come the thought of immortality?
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The limits of its sphere can nothing ere transcend,
And thought roam where it will can never find its end.
And thought roam where it will can never find its end.
Around the soul one thought of nebulous glory clings,
As Saturn is ensphered within its luminous rings.
As Saturn is ensphered within its luminous rings.
This pours upon our life its pure and lambent light,
And brings its fullest joy when sorrow brings the night.
And brings its fullest joy when sorrow brings the night.
[XXX. The East for sweet luxurious ease and rest]
The East for sweet luxurious ease and rest—
For toil, and pain, and struggle is the West.
For toil, and pain, and struggle is the West.
The calm siesta, pipe, and soft divan
With mild sensations, are for Eastern man.
With mild sensations, are for Eastern man.
The fierce debate, the strife for place and power,
The brain and nerve life is our Western dower.
The brain and nerve life is our Western dower.
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With all our rush and toil we scarcely move,
And lose the truest joy of living—love!
And lose the truest joy of living—love!
[XXXI. Nature will ne'er repeat; whatever she creates]
Nature will ne'er repeat; whatever she creates
An individual is; she never imitates.
An individual is; she never imitates.
Each life she separate makes, whate'er its class may be,
And men are tones whose chord we call society.
And men are tones whose chord we call society.
What thou hast done is fair—perchance for thee the best;
But yet there is for me a different behest.
But yet there is for me a different behest.
We drill all thoughts and acts to Fashion's monotone,
But various Nature still abhors a unison.
But various Nature still abhors a unison.
With her wide-ranging hand she modulates the keys,
From seeming discord builds progressive harmonies.
From seeming discord builds progressive harmonies.
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If we refuse the tone, that God to each has given,
The symphony is marred that earth plays unto heaven.
The symphony is marred that earth plays unto heaven.
[XXXII. Where thou art strong and stout thy friend to thee will show]
Where thou art strong and stout thy friend to thee will show—
Where thou art weak alone is taught thee by thy fee.
Where thou art weak alone is taught thee by thy fee.
Therefore despise him not; but 'neath his battle-axe
See if thy armor ring whole, sound, or 'neath it cracks.
See if thy armor ring whole, sound, or 'neath it cracks.
Though friend with flattery soothe, or foe stab through and through,
Praise cannot save the False, nor malice kill the True.
Praise cannot save the False, nor malice kill the True.
[XXXIII. The Imperfect hath a charm the Perfect cannot own]
The Imperfect hath a charm the Perfect cannot own;
From satisfaction Hope ungirds her flashing zone.
From satisfaction Hope ungirds her flashing zone.
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No perfect nature shapes—she only hints in each
And tantalizes with her partly finished speech.
And tantalizes with her partly finished speech.
[XXXIV. The torch you turn to earth still upward lifts its flame]
The torch you turn to earth still upward lifts its flame,And so the soul looks up though turned to earth in shame.
| Poems by William W. Story | |