The Legend of the Golden Prayers and other poems By C. F. Alexander |
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| I. | I.
THE PARTING. |
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| III. |
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| IX. |
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| II. |
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 | The Legend of the Golden Prayers and other poems |  |
I. THE PARTING.
I go—the night-lamp flickers
In crystal socket deep,
As throbbing to the murmurs
Of thy short, restless sleep.
In crystal socket deep,
As throbbing to the murmurs
Of thy short, restless sleep.
On thy pale brow the shadows
Of the closed curtains fall,
I watch the long dark figures
They cast on the cold wall.
Of the closed curtains fall,
I watch the long dark figures
They cast on the cold wall.
And I can see thee heaving
The long white counterpane,—
When shall I keep the night-watch
By thy sick couch again?
The long white counterpane,—
When shall I keep the night-watch
By thy sick couch again?
71
I go—the cold bright morning
Breaks up in the grey sky,
On wood, and stream, and valley,
And those green hills that lie
Breaks up in the grey sky,
On wood, and stream, and valley,
And those green hills that lie
All to the blue sea looking;
And through the breaking dark
I hear the pigeon cooing,
The first song of the lark.
And through the breaking dark
I hear the pigeon cooing,
The first song of the lark.
O time, O youth, O gladness,
How swiftly have ye sped
Since we have watched the sunsets
From yon green mountain head!
How swiftly have ye sped
Since we have watched the sunsets
From yon green mountain head!
Where is the step that bounded
So lightly from the ground,
The ring of that sweet laughter
That hath no fellow sound;
So lightly from the ground,
The ring of that sweet laughter
That hath no fellow sound;
The large dark eye, all radiant
With glad and glorious thought?
O suffering, O sorrow,
How surely have ye wrought!
With glad and glorious thought?
O suffering, O sorrow,
How surely have ye wrought!
72
Now wasted form, and languor,
And lowly-breathed word,
And pain, and unrest weary,
And pale lips roughly stirr'd.
And lowly-breathed word,
And pain, and unrest weary,
And pale lips roughly stirr'd.
Hush, false and vain repining,
Nor drop hot tears of mine!
Doth man not cut the diamond
That it may brighter shine?
Nor drop hot tears of mine!
Doth man not cut the diamond
That it may brighter shine?
Do we not cast the fine gold
Into the cleansing fire?
Is not the child most cherish'd
Still chasten'd of its sire?
Into the cleansing fire?
Is not the child most cherish'd
Still chasten'd of its sire?
And saints wear crowns of glory
Through Heaven's eternal years,
With brightest rays around them—
All framed from earthly tears.
Through Heaven's eternal years,
With brightest rays around them—
All framed from earthly tears.
Hush! there are unseen watchers
Round the blest sufferer now,
And angel-hands, all gently,
Smooth down her pale high brow!
Round the blest sufferer now,
And angel-hands, all gently,
Smooth down her pale high brow!
73
Hush! He is here in presence
Who knew all pain and care,
Nor ever layeth on His own
A cross they cannot bear!
Who knew all pain and care,
Nor ever layeth on His own
A cross they cannot bear!
Hush! for a dear hand beckons
Her soul to the bright shore,
Like Summer hasting after
The young Spring gone before!
Her soul to the bright shore,
Like Summer hasting after
The young Spring gone before!
I go—O parting sorrow,
O anguish of vain tears,
Why will ye mock me—bringing
The shades of our past years?
O anguish of vain tears,
Why will ye mock me—bringing
The shades of our past years?
Twin spirit to my spirit,
When thou hast left my side
What other love shall comfort?
What other voice shall guide?
When thou hast left my side
What other love shall comfort?
What other voice shall guide?
Hush! in our high communion
There is no broken link,
And lights gleam through the shadows
On the dark river's brink!
There is no broken link,
And lights gleam through the shadows
On the dark river's brink!
74
One hope, one faith, one heaven;
These years how fast they speed;
There is no endless parting,
No, never, in our creed.
These years how fast they speed;
There is no endless parting,
No, never, in our creed.
| The Legend of the Golden Prayers and other poems | |