 | Last poems including Afterglow and Beyond the sunset |  |
192
HEART'S DESIRE
“God give you your heart's desire,
Whatever it be,” she said;
Then down the gallery's shining length
Like a thing of light she sped.
Whatever it be,” she said;
Then down the gallery's shining length
Like a thing of light she sped.
Her face was a stranger's face;
Her name I shall never know;
But softly her benediction fell
As the night-winds breathing low.
Her name I shall never know;
But softly her benediction fell
As the night-winds breathing low.
Who knoweth the heart's desire?
Its innermost secret dream?
Its holiest shrine where the altar-lights
Forever and ever gleam?
Its innermost secret dream?
Its holiest shrine where the altar-lights
Forever and ever gleam?
193
Who guesseth the heart's desire?
Ah, neither you nor I!
It hideth away in darkling space
From the gaze of the passer-by.
Ah, neither you nor I!
It hideth away in darkling space
From the gaze of the passer-by.
Who giveth the heart's desire
To the child that cries for the moon?
Or the samite robe and the Holy Grail
To the soul that was born too soon?
To the child that cries for the moon?
Or the samite robe and the Holy Grail
To the soul that was born too soon?
Who giveth the heart's desire
To the lover whose love lies dead?
Or the priest who faces the silence
With the living word unsaid?
To the lover whose love lies dead?
Or the priest who faces the silence
With the living word unsaid?
Who giveth the heart's desire
To the poet with harp unstrung,
When he turns from the trembling lyre
With his noblest song unsung?
To the poet with harp unstrung,
When he turns from the trembling lyre
With his noblest song unsung?
| Last poems including Afterglow and Beyond the sunset | |